Participation
Clients determine whether a program is mandatory or voluntary. For our HealthReach program, HCS recommends starting with voluntary participation and then over time, making participation mandatory. Using this methodology allows members to "walk before they can run." Programs implemented over time have a better success rate than programs with mandatory participation from day one. Our most successful HealthReach client started with voluntary participation. After one year, the value of the program was apparent and the decision was made to make participation mandatory. To date, this client has been able to beat their industry trend related to medical benefit costs.
For Care Counselor Utilization Management and Large Case Management, mandatory participation is recommended from day one.
With the nature of the MaterniCare program, participation is usually voluntary but incentives are recommended to encourage participation.
The overall value of any HCS program is the support of the employer or administrator to encourage participation. With participation comes better-educated employees who are empowered and educated to become more involved in their health. Employees involved in their health leads to:
» Decreased plan benefit costs
» Happier and healthier employees
» Increased productivity