Preventive Services: Improving the Bottom Line for Employers and Employees

Abstract

Many studies have shown that health promotion and disease prevention programs improve employee health and productivity and reduce longterm health care costs. For every $100 spent on health promotion, employers could see a $300 return on investment. Screenings for health conditions such as hypertension and colorectal cancer can save lives and reduce costs by catching diseases at an earlier, more manageable stage. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the leading federal health agency charged with improving quality, safety and effectiveness within the U.S. health care system, regularly convenes an independent panel of experts in prevention called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF systematically reviews clinical evidence and provides preventive health care recommendations for specific populations. The National Business Group on Health recently translated the USPSTF recommendations into accessible language in their Employer’s Guide to Health Improvement and Preventive Services, an employer resource to help benefits professionals build an appropriate prevention benefits package for their workforce.