Lawmakers, Groups Comment on Worker Wellness Rule
U.S. lawmakers and interest groups are seeking clarity on a proposed rule that would allow employers to award workers as much as 30% of their health coverage costs for participating in wellness programs, an increase from the current 20%. In a letter, a group of House Democrats wrote that although the rule does establish requirements for how a wellness program must be designed, those requirements are not based on science. Meanwhile, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in a letter warned that the proposed rule could undermine the success of wellness programs by allowing individual accommodation. In addition, the National Committee on Quality Assurance recommended in a letter that its Wellness and Health Promotion Accreditation program be used to establish a better definition of reasonable program design.
- "Feds Urged To Clarify Wellness Program Guidelines" (Zigmond, Modern Healthcare, 1/29).