case study

Sustaining Productivity
Tackling the significant and swelling economic burden of depression in the workplace

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The Goal:

Spur further discussion on better controlling employer-sponsored health insurance costs for Wisconsin workplaces.

The Tactic:

Create a special report for Wisconsin business leaders and policymakers, Sustaining Productivity, to communicate employer advantages and ROI for improving the design and delivery of health benefits, tapping the most current evidence-based research. Deliver this piece to all benefits decision makers, business leaders, and elected officials throughout Wisconsin. To enhance receptivity and credibility of Sustaining Productivity, broker partnerships with Wis. Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, Johns Hopkins workplace psychiatry researcher Alan Langlieb, MD, and the national trade bible for benefits management, Employee Benefit News (EBN).

The Rationale:

The latest evidence-based findings demonstrate that employers, as major purchasers of health care coverage, are de facto health policymakers in our nation. They drive quality and accountability performance with decisions they make as collective consumers. Therefore, improving employers' knowledge of what they can do to better address the economic burden of depression in the workplace can yield informed decision making and improved policy.

The Results:

This initiative launched in January 2007; therefore results from the field are pending. However, the initiative's ability to garner the interest, support and full engagement of key partners including the Lt. Gov. of Wisconsin, Johns Hopkins University researchers, and Employee Benefit News trade magazine, speak to its importance and viability as an appropriate tactic to reach benefits decision makers - and spur discussion and policy changes.

The Biggest News:

Eight tangible and tactical 'Calls to Action' for employers are summarized in the Sustaining Productivity piece. This provides a roadmap for business leaders and decision makers to follow in reviewing their health benefits policies, and effecting changes that can increase ROI and the productivity of the Wisconsin workplace, all while improving benefits coverage for employees - a 'win-win.'