Is telephonic health care in your company’s benefits future?

A new study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM) finds that employers can save money by having overweight employees participate in a weight-management program over the phone.

How it works: Your firm contracts with a telephonic health provider.  The service will call enrolled employees as many as five or six times per year to offer counseling. The study found that most employees lost weight.

One firm participating in the study saved an estimated $311,755 between lower premiums and reduced health claims.

Cite: JOEM, 9/08, Vol. 50, Issue 9.