Screening for common chronic disease risk factors may significantly reduce employers’ health costs.

A Virginia based publishing services company generated significant savings on health care costs by requiring its employees to take health risk assessments and screening for high blood pressure and cholesterol. Cadmus Communications found high levels of hypertension and elevated cholesterol levels among their 3,000 employees. Additionally 78 percent of employees were overweight. The company organized weight loss contests and offered prizes and provided a 25 percent subsidy for membership in Weight Watchers. Nurses followed up with workers with high cholesterol or hypertension to ensure they received appropriate treatment.

The result of an employer focusing on risk factors for chronic conditions was a significant drop in health service utilization by its workers and a much lower increase in health premiums for the company. For this employer premiums increased only 7 percent this year compared to 22 percent the previous year. By working with employees to reduce health risk factors, employers can benefit from less absenteeism, better productivity and lower health benefit costs.