Top performing areas for MHealthy Rewards announced

Two UM-Dearborn offices received recognition as top-performing areas. The Office of Institutional Advancement, which included the Office of Communications & Marketing, earned an 84 percent participation rate. That ranked as the fourth-highest rate among the three campuses and health system. The Office of Enrollment Management and Student Life’s participation rate was 70 percent.

"We could not have achieved such high participation and completion without support from all levels of the university," says LaVaughn Palma-Davis, senior director of University Health & Well-Being Services. "Our university leaders as well as our Champion volunteers have played an important role in improving the quality of life for our faculty and staff, helping to create a campus culture of health."

Schools, colleges and administrative areas from Ann Arbor, Flint, Dearborn and the U-M Health System are represented in the 45 areas that saw 50 percent or more of their employees complete Rewards, including UM-Dearborn’s Information Technology and College of Business.

All top-performing areas were recognized with a certificate and letter of congratulations, with special recognition given to the top areas.

Studies show that worksite wellness programs such as MHealthy can positively affect employees' attitudes toward their health and their work, and that even small changes in a community's health risks can produce significant changes in health care costs.

"The university is committed to improving the health of its community, and we are starting to see positive movement toward health risk reduction," Palma-Davis says. "This is good news, we are trending in the right direction."

Based on health questionnaire results from 2009-11, the number of university participants who are low risk for health risks such as stress, tobacco use, poor nutrition, and obesity is increasing, and the number of participants considered high risk is decreasing.

MHealthy is making preparations to launch Rewards 2013 this January. Benefits-eligible employees will receive a $50 before-tax incentive for completing their annual health questionnaire and have the opportunity to earn an additional $50 incentive by completing one eligible health and well-being activity. Activities will include Active U 2013, stress management and weight management programs, MHealthy fitness or nutrition consultations, online education programs and more.

New for the Rewards 2013, enrolled spouses and Other Qualified Adults will be able to complete the health questionnaire. No monetary incentive will be awarded to spouses/OQAs, although they will have access to a variety of health and well-being programs. Research supports the importance of having a spouse or partner that also is engaged in a healthy lifestyle to help maintain or improve health efforts.