HealthWire

Letter to Clients
Trustmark Acquisition Complete; Learn Why It's a Win for Clients
Trustmark Mutual Fund Company recently completed its tender offer for HealthFitness and the acquisition was finalized Feb. 26, 2010. We are thrilled to be part of the Trustmark team and I want to share with you how this transition marks an exciting opportunity for our company-and for our clients.

For Trustmark, the acquisition of HealthFitness is a strategic move to achieve larger market share. We will be a platform company through which Trustmark can build other capabilities. And together, we can accelerate a strategy to offer a broad range of total population health management solutions.

As a private subsidiary of Trustmark, versus a standalone public company, we expect to grow more quickly through access to additional resources and capital. For example, we anticipate potential synergies for program and technology expansion to develop new cutting-edge tools that better engage participants in healthy behaviors.

In addition, we look forward to collaborating with other Trustmark subsidiaries to deliver new solutions, such as condition management. These subsidiaries include CoreSource, a third-party claims payer; Voluntary Benefit Solutions, an insurance solution that will introduce us to additional employer partnerships; and Health Contact Providers (HCP), a 24/7 nurseline and provider of high acuity case management.

Another key benefit of this acquisition is our aligned corporate cultures. Trustmark thinks like we do. We share the same entrepreneurial spirit. We both believe in taking a consultative approach with clients, learning their needs and offering flexible, tailored solutions. Plus, we have similar attributes, such as long-tenured executive teams.

Rest assured; in terms of the service we provide to current clients, this acquisition means business as usual. This being said, we look forward to sharing details in the coming months of additions to our solutions that will more effectively help employees improve their health, navigate the health care system, increase productivity and reduce medical costs.

To learn more about our new parent company, I encourage you to visit www.trustmarkcompanies.com or talk with your HealthFitness regional director.

Yours in good health,

Gregg Lehman

Inside HealthFitness
HealthFitness Recognized in 2009 Minnesota Census of Women in Corporate Leadership
This February, HealthFitness received Honor Roll recognition in the 2009 Minnesota Census of Women in Corporate Leadership. Companies with both 20 percent or more women corporate directors and 20 percent or more women executive officers receive Honor Roll recognition.

The 2009 Minnesota Census of Women in Corporate Leadership is a report published by St. Catherine University and the Minnesota Women's Economic Roundtable. The survey evaluates the status of women serving on the boards and in the executive offices of Minnesota's 100 largest publicly held companies, which have revenues ranging from $28 million to $82 billion.

"HealthFitness is honored to be named in the 2009 Minnesota Census of Women in Corporate Leadership," said Gregg Lehman, HealthFitness president and CEO. "We are proud to have such a strong team of women to contribute to the results-driven employee health solutions we deliver to employers."

HealthFitness' Chief Medical Officer to Speak at AJHP Conference
HealthFitness' Chief Medical Officer Jim Reynolds, M.D., will discuss best practices with measuring return on investment at the American Journal of Health Promotion's 20th Annual Art and Science of Health Promotion Conference, March 17-19.

In a session titled, "Measuring ROI with Health Management: Methodology and Results," Reynolds will share details about HealthFitness' ROI analytics program, which evaluates the impact of health management services on medical and pharmacy claims expenses. To illustrate the application of this ROI methodology, Reynolds will highlight a database of client examples.

Also at the conference, HealthFitness' Director of Health and Behavioral Sciences Ed Framer, Ph.D., will lead a "Making Connections" lunch session on health risk assessments as the hub in the wheel of health promotion.

Want Programs that Change Behaviors?
A workplace weight-loss program at a transportation authority in Austin, Texas, generated an ROI of nearly $2.50 per dollar spent. A recent article in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease1 says the plan's payoff stems from lower health care costs and reduced absenteeism.

Physical activity and weight management programs are critical components to motivate behavior change that affects the bottom line. HealthFitness offers many programs that empower participants to make healthy choices.

In 2009, aggregate results across our book of clients showed:

  • Your Weigh...Together, a group weight management program, helped 87 percent of participants lose weight, with an average weight loss of 8.8 pounds. Your Weigh...Together is available to clients with an on-site HealthFitness associate.
  • JumpStart™, a six-week motivational challenge, helped 65 percent of participants increase their knowledge about healthy food choices; 71 percent increase their intake of fruits and vegetables; and 78 percent decrease their portion sizes or slow their eating pace. An on-site HealthFitness associate is required to deliver this program.
  • Walk This Way®, a walking program, inspired participants to lose more than 2.5 tons of extra weight. Plus, 83 percent of survey respondents increased their amount of daily activity through the program. Walk This Way can be delivered on-site or made available to employees located remotely.

To learn more about how to offer these programs at your company, contact your program manager.

1 Davis L, Loyo K, Glowka A, Schwertfeger R, Danielson L, Brea C, et al. A comprehensive worksite wellness program in Austin, Texas: partnership between Steps to a Healthier Austin and Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Prev Chronic Dis 2009;6(2). http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2009/apr/08_0206.htm. Accessed March 1, 2010.

Best-in-Class Practices and Awards
Cisco Transforms Employee Health through HealthConnections
In recent advertising, Cisco Systems promotes "the human network," with a tagline that states the company is "transforming the way we live, work, play and learn."

This tagline also applies to Cisco's approach to employee health.

Inventive programming abounds at Cisco's three fitness centers managed by HealthFitness, located in Triangle Park, N.C., Boxborough, Mass., and Ottawa, Canada. In addition to fitness management, HealthFitness provides screenings and flu shots for these locations as well as manages a part-time nurse for the on-site health clinic at the North Carolina office.

HealthConnections is Cisco's program for employee health and well-being, which provides resources for the employees to take charge of their health in the areas of nutrition, fitness, sleep, life balance, preventive care and condition management.

Highlights of Cisco's HealthConnections program include:

  • Targeted programs for call center employees. Cisco's call center employees have access to a recreation room, complete with pingpong, video games and foosball to help them de-stress. The North Carolina site also offers "sleep pods," which allow employees to grab a power nap to de-stress during the day.
  • Webex seminars on diverse topics related to mental and physical health. Last September, for example, HealthFitness hosted a positive parenting webinar that had more than 200 attendees.
  • Virtual clinic. Launched this past fall, employees have access to a nurse who can run tests and check vitals. The nurse and employee can then connect with a doctor at Cisco's headquarters in San Jose, Calif., via video TelePresence to receive a more in-depth diagnosis.

Industry Insights
Buzz from Recent Research
The Cost of Obesity
Studies estimate that obesity accounts for about 9.1 percent of medical spending. If Americans continue to gain weight, obesity will cost the United States about $344 billion in medical-related expenses by the year 2018, according to America's Health Rankings.

As part of a special analysis, the America's Health Rankings report assessed the effect excess weight would have on our future medical costs if obesity were to continue to rise at the current rate. The calculations were based on the projection that in 10 years about 43 percent of American adults could be obese, which is about 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight.

Researchers also used weight data, census statistics and medical expenditure information to make the following projections:

  • If the percentage of obese adults continues to rise at the current rate, 103 million Americans adults will be obese by 2018.
  • If the percentage of obese adults doesn't change but stays at the current rate of 34 percent, then obesity will cost the U.S. about $198 billion by 2018.
  • An obese person will pay an average of $8,315 in medical bills a year in 2018, which is about $2,460 more than a person at a healthy weight.

Source: America's Health Rankings. The Future Costs of Obesity: National and State Estimates of the Impact of Obesity on Direct Health Care Expenses. A collaborative report from United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention. 2009. http://www.americashealthrankings.org/2009/spotlight/FuturePrevalence.aspx

Life Expectancy at All-Time High
The average life expectancy hit an all-time high, according to a recent preliminary report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics.

According to the most recent year reported in Health, United States, 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services' annual report to the president and Congress, the average American lived 77.9 years in 2007, which is up from 77.7 the year prior. In 1990, the average life expectancy was 75.4.

Additionally, the CDC reported declines in mortality rates for eight of the 15 leading causes of death, including:

  • Influenza and pneumonia (8.4 percent)
  • Homicide (6.5 percent)
  • Accidents (5 percent)
  • Heart disease (4.7 percent)
  • Stroke (4.6 percent)
  • Diabetes (3.9 percent)
  • Hypertension (2.7 percent)
  • Cancer (1.8 percent)

Source: National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2009: In Brief. Hyattsville, MD. 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus09_InBrief.pdf

Health Care Reform Update: President Obama Eager to Move Forward
President Obama declared last week that the time for debate has come to an end, closing a seven-hour summit with congressional leaders by sending a clear message that Democrats will move forward to pass major legislation with or without Republican support.

Increasingly, the White House appears to favor having the House pass a version of the measure that cleared the Senate with 60 votes in December. The Senate would then pass changes to the bill to satisfy some demands of House Democrats. That Senate vote would take place under a parliamentary procedure known as reconciliation, which requires 51 votes rather than 60.

It remains unclear whether Democrats have enough votes for this strategy to work. A senior White House official said earlier this week that this is the only option that the president is considering.

Where We'll Be Next
29th Annual International Convention & Trade Show
International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association
March 10-13, 2010
San Diego

Business Health Agenda 2010
National Business Group on Health
March 10-12, 2010
Washington, D.C.

20th Annual Art & Science of Health Promotion Conference: What Works Good, Better, Best in Health Promotion?
American Journal of Health Promotion
March 17-19, 2010
Westin Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

10th Annual IHPM International Health & Productivity Conference
Institute for Health and Productivity Management
March 29-31, 2010
Orlando