National Business Group on Health Honors Kaiser Permanente with Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles® Award

Organization among 63 employers recognized for promoting healthy work environment and lifestyles

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Jun 26, 2014, 11:00 ET

OAKLAND, Calif., June 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Business Group on Health, a non-profit association of large U.S. employers, has honored Kaiser Permanente for its ongoing commitment to promoting a healthy work environment and encouraging its physicians, and employees and their families, to maintain healthy lifestyles.

Kaiser Permanente was among 63 U.S. employers that received the 2014 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles® Award at a Leadership Summit sponsored by the National Business Group on Health's Institute on Innovation in Workforce Well-being. Kaiser Permanente received a Gold Award for its Healthy Workforce initiatives. This marks the fourth consecutive year Kaiser Permanente has been honored by group.

Kaiser Permanente was recognized for the dynamic and innovative Healthy Workforce programs, tools and resources it offers to support the total health of its physicians and employees. These include a number of creative programs that promote opportunities for healthier eating in the workplace and at home, reward regular physical activity, and encourage ways to minimize stress and maximize joy and mindfulness in the workplace.

"Kaiser Permanente is widely recognized as a leader in health care quality and prevention, and we fully understand the importance of providing our 18,000 physicians and 175,000 employees with the support and inspiration they need to live healthier lives," said Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson. "Our commitment to workforce health has a direct impact on the health and well-being of our physicians and employees, which in turn helps ensure that we are able to consistently provide our members and the communities we serve with the high-quality care and service they expect from Kaiser Permanente."

In addition to its programs, as part of its innovative approach to workforce wellness, Kaiser Permanente, in partnership with the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, announced a groundbreaking employee incentive program effective in 2014. The voluntary employer plan takes a collective approach to workforce wellness, and helps Kaiser Permanente employees make their own health a top priority. It is based on groups achieving collective improvements in the at-risk population across four health risk areas: blood pressure levels, body mass index, cholesterol levels and smoking status.

Brian Marcotte, president and CEO of the National Business Group on Health, commented: "We are very pleased to honor Kaiser Permanente for its dedication to providing programs that encourage wellness and healthy lifestyles for their employees and families. Kaiser Permanente is among an elite group of organizations that are leading the way to promote healthy workplaces and lifestyles. Kaiser Permanente and its management team should be proud of their efforts and we congratulate them on receiving this award."

About the National Business Group on Health
The National Business Group on Health is the nation's only non-profit, membership organization of large employers devoted exclusively to finding innovative and forward-thinking solutions to their most important health care and related benefits issues and to being the voice for large employers on national health care issues. The Business Group, whose 392 members include 69 of the Fortune 100, identifies, develops, and shares best practices in health benefits, disability, health and productivity, related paid time off and work/life balance issues. Business Group members provide health coverage for more than 55 million U.S. workers, retirees, and their families. For more information, visit www.businessgrouphealth.org.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 9.3 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to kp.org/share.

Contact:
Caitlin Cobb, [email protected]
510.271.5955, 510.368.6281 (mobile)

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SOURCE Kaiser Permanente