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Suffolk
County
Executive Steve Levy Announces First Phase of Health Incentive Pilot Program for Employees
“SHIP-SHAPE” to Offer Cash, Time Off for Health/Lifestyle Improvements; Screenings, Physicals to Start November 2 for 2010 Program
Healthier Employees Lower Health Care Costs in Long Run
Hauppauge, NY –
Suffolk County employees interested in becoming SHIP-SHAPE – and receiving cash incentives of up to $500 for making health and lifestyle improvements -- will be able to start signing up for the county’s pilot program beginning November 2.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy today unveiled the details of the incentive program – which is designed not only to promote employee wellness but to lower short-term and long-term health care costs.
“With healthier employees, everybody wins,” said Levy, who will implement the program as a pilot for up to 500 employees selected from the Association of Municipal Employees and from exempt positions. “At a time when health care costs to the county continue to climb annually, improving employee health is one way we can save taxpayer dollars.”
Known as SHIP-SHAPE (Suffolk Health Incentive Program to Stimulate Health And Prevention Efforts), the program will screen the 500 initial participants for eligibility into the full, 12-month incentive program. The 500 interested employees will receive one-half day off for a routine annual physical exam and testing by their own physician during the month of November. All information will be screened confidentially by the county’s Employee Benefits division and the Department of Health Services.
Those who are assessed as being at cardiovascular risk (as determined by the nationally known Reynolds Risk Score) and those with diabetes mellitus will be offered enrollment into the year-long program to begin in 2010.
The program will use a point system to reward physical health improvements and healthy lifestyle modifications – with enrollees will be eligible for cash rewards of $125, $250 or $500 at the end of the program for attaining various point levels.
The point program will measure both objective and subjective improvements, including:
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Lowering BMI (Body Mass Index) – 10 points
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Lowering BMI by more than 10%, or maintaining a BMI below 25 – 15 points
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Lowering Blood Pressure to below 120/80 – 15 points
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Increasing “good” cholesterol (HDL) to above 60 – 5 points
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Lowering or maintaining hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein) at or below 1.0 – 10 points
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Getting an annual flu shot – 5 points
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Getting age-appropriate cancer screenings – 10 points
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Completing a Suffolk smoking cessation program, or remaining smoke-free – 10 points
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Developing a regular exercise program – 5 points
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Adhering to healthy eating practices – 5 points
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Taking a daily aspirin if required – 5 points
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Completing alcohol screening test – 5 points
Levy noted that even employees who are not enrolled into the year-long incentive program can benefit, by supporting a co-worker who is in the program.
“When someone is struggling to quit smoking, or lose weight, they can find a tremendous amount of encouragement amongst their co-workers,” Levy noted, suggesting that groups of employees can form lunchtime walking groups, friendly diet competitions, workout together or establish a group pledge to maintain healthier lifestyles.
The County Executive unveiled his program today at a press conference at Innovative Fitness in Hauppauge, which will offer county employees accepted in the program a discounted rate. Levy said through the county’s health insurance program a number of other fitness locations across the county provide regular discounts to all county employees.
Fiscal Fitness. Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy is pictured with some of the training staff at Innovative Fitness in Hauppauge, where today he announced a pilot program – known as SHIP-SHAPE -- in 2010 for county employees to earn up to $500 for meeting and maintaining important healthy lifestyle benchmarks. Levy anticipates the pilot program will save Suffolk in short-term and long-term health care costs.
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