UPMC and UPMC Health Plan Win Platinum Award from National Business Group on Health

PITTSBURGH, June 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth time since 2009, UPMC and UPMC Health Plan have been selected as a Platinum winner of the 2015 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles ® awards by the National Business Group on Health (NBGH).

UPMC and UPMC Health Plan were selected by NBGH for "exemplary workplace well-being initiatives" that are offered through their UPMC MyHealth program, which is designed to maintain and advance the health, productivity, and quality of life of employees while reducing their incidence of health risks and the cost of those risks to their employer.

UPMC and UPMC Health Plan's MyHealth programs were recognized by NBGH for offering "an example and challenge to other employers striving to improve employee health and quality of life." The awards were announced today at NBGH's annual Leadership Summit on Workforce Well-being in Washington, D.C.

Among the initiatives that earned UPMC and UPMC Health Plan Platinum recognition was its Dining Smart program, which promotes nutritious eating in UPMC cafeterias. UPMC also has seen increased success with its tobacco cessation efforts, including a new non-smoking policy that was instituted at all UPMC worksites in 2013.

"Over the years, we have seen continuous improvement in our results for our programs and every year our overall numbers for employees who are considered at 'low risk' increases," said John Galley, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for UPMC. "Each year we evaluate our programs to continue to improve the health of our workforce and their families. The addition of outcomes-based measures and rewards was an important step for us in evolving our program to continue to drive favorable trends in population health management. As a result, our employees are seeing a better quality of life at work and at home and the result is an overall healthier workforce."   

"UPMC MyHealth is not so much a wellness program at UPMC as it is a culture change," said Diane P. Holder President and CEO of UPMC Health Plan. "You can see that in the fact that we have had over a 90 percent employee engagement in MyHealth that extends over 10 years. We have a strong commitment to fostering a healthy employee population, and that has been demonstrated year after year."    

In addition to being the health and wellness program for UPMC employees, UPMC MyHealth is also available to employer groups through UPMC Health Plan.  

UPMC Health Plan and UPMC (combined as a joint entry) was one of only 26 companies in the nation to earn the Platinum award, which recognizes outstanding programs that promote healthy work environments and encourage workers to live healthier lifestyles. Thirty-eight employers earned gold awards.

Now in its 11th year, the underlying goal of the Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles awards is to encourage all employers to take action and respond to the urgent need to improve their employees' health.  

In addition to UPMC and UPMC Health Plan, other Platinum award winners included Accenture, Delta Air Lines, Hewlett-Packard, IBM Corporation, Marriott International, Inc., and MasterCard.    

"We congratulate this group of elite companies that are making a difference every day in improving the health and overall well-being of their employees," said LuAnn Heinen, Vice President of the NBGH. "They are to be commended for their commitment to promoting healthy work environments and for their innovation in developing outstanding programs for employees that encourage good health and well-being."      

About UPMC Health Plan
UPMC Health Plan, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., is among the nation's fastest-growing health plans. It is owned by UPMC, a world-renowned health care provider. As part of an integrated health care delivery system, UPMC Health Plan is committed to providing its members better health, more financial security, and the peace of mind they deserve. UPMC Health Plan partners with UPMC and community network providers to produce a combination of knowledge and expertise that provides the highest quality care at the most affordable price. The UPMC Insurance Services Division – which includes UPMC Health Plan, UPMC WorkPartners, Life Solutions, UPMC for Life, UPMC for You, UPMC for Kids, Askesis, and Community Care Behavioral Health — offers a full range of group health insurance, Medicare, Special Needs, CHIP, Medical Assistance, behavioral health, employee assistance, and workers' compensation products and services to over 2.6 million members. Our local provider network includes UPMC as well as community providers, totaling more than 125 hospitals and more than 11,500 physicians throughout Pennsylvania and parts of Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland. For more information, visit www.upmchealthplan.com.

SOURCE UPMC Health Plan

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