The city of Chicago is seeking a vendor that can implement and manage a wellness program for city employees in an effort to cut down healthcare costs, according to a Chicago News Cooperative report.
According to the report, city employees suffer from significant or catastrophic chronic disease, such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma, at a much higher rate than the national average. Consequently, healthcare costs for city employees have grown 10-12 percent each year. This year alone, healthcare costs per employee clock in at nearly $13,000, according to the report.
The city hopes to reduce healthcare costs by 3.5 percent to $485 million next year, down from this year's $500 million. City officials believe it can be accomplished through the creation of a wellness program, which would offer free annual risk assessments, health counseling and weekly programs focused on managing specific conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the report.
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According to the report, city employees suffer from significant or catastrophic chronic disease, such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma, at a much higher rate than the national average. Consequently, healthcare costs for city employees have grown 10-12 percent each year. This year alone, healthcare costs per employee clock in at nearly $13,000, according to the report.
The city hopes to reduce healthcare costs by 3.5 percent to $485 million next year, down from this year's $500 million. City officials believe it can be accomplished through the creation of a wellness program, which would offer free annual risk assessments, health counseling and weekly programs focused on managing specific conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the report.
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