Employment-Based Wellness Program Final Rules Released

HHS announced that it, along with the U.S. Departments of Labor and Treasury, has issued the final rules on employment-based wellness programs.  

The final rules continue to support "participatory wellness programs," such as those that reimburse the cost of membership in a fitness center, provide a reward to employees for attending a monthly health education seminar and those that reward employees who complete a health risk assessment.

The rules also outline standards for nondiscriminatory "health-contingent wellness programs," which include programs that provide a reward to those who do not use or decrease their use of tobacco and programs that reward those who achieve a specified health-related goal.

The final rules also ensure flexibility for employers as it will increase the maximum reward that may be offered under health-contingent wellness programs to 30 percent of the cost of coverage, a ten percent increase from the current amount.

The final rules will be effective for plans beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2014.

More Articles on HHS:

HHS Meets Goal: More Than 50% of Physicians, 80% of Hospitals Adopting EHRs
8 Hospitals Receive HHS Award for Eliminating Infections

Idaho State University to Pay HHS $400K to Settle HIPAA Violations


Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars