HealthFitness Helps State of Nebraska Win National Wellness Award

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthFitness is pleased to announce the State of Nebraska was awarded the Well Workplace Award from the Wellness Council of America for its wellness program for state employees. The Nebraska wellness program, now in its second year, is available to the 18,000 eligible state employees and their spouses. Nebraska is one of only two states to win the award.

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The Well Workplace Award, issued by the Wellness Council of America, has four levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. The State of Nebraska was awarded a gold medal, which recognizes organizations that have developed comprehensive programs that are producing results.

"We are delighted that the State of Nebraska has earned this prestigious award for their efforts," said HealthFitness President and CEO Paul Lotharius. "Beginning with Gov. Heineman, the state has embraced a corporate culture of health which has encouraged significant participation in the wellness program."

Nebraska's state employee wellness program, known as WellnessOptions, was introduced in 2009. To date, approximately 33 percent of state employees receiving health insurance benefits have enrolled in the wellness program. In its two-year history, the Nebraska initiative has logged impressive outcomes including quantifiable reductions in health risk and health care costs and a notable rise in employee commitment to health improvement.

This year, the program was expanded to include employee's spouses, with an additional 1,670 spouses participating in the State of Nebraska wellness program. Noted areas of progress include an 11-percent improvement in employees reporting increased physical activity and a 19-percent increase in employees engaging in preventative screenings. You can read the issue brief to find out more about the results from Nebraska's award-winning wellness program.

About HealthFitness

HealthFitness, a subsidiary of Trustmark Companies, is an award-winning provider of integrated health promotion and fitness management solutions to Fortune 500 companies, the health care industry and individual consumers. With 30-plus years of experience, HealthFitness partners with employers to effectively manage health care and productivity costs by improving individual health and well-being. HealthFitness provides a portfolio of solutions, including best-in-class integration, INSIGHT® Health Risk Assessments, screenings, EMPOWERED™ Health Coaching and fitness facility design and management. For more information on HealthFitness, visit www.hfit.com.

SOURCE HealthFitness