WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Mar 3, 2016) - The National Business Group on Health, a non-profit association of more than 425 large, U. S. employers, today honored six companies -- American Express, GlaxoSmithKline, Cigna, Paychex, Wegmans and Xerox -- for their ongoing commitment to promote health equity and reduce health care disparities in the workplace. The companies were recognized with "Innovation in Advancing Health Equity Awards." The awards were presented today at the National Business Group on Health's 2016 Business Health Agenda conference.
In presenting the awards, Brian Marcotte, President and CEO of the National Business Group on Health, commented: "We are pleased to recognize these six companies for their commitments to advance health equity and reduce health care disparities through workplace and community initiatives. Employers that address health care disparities and promote health equity can improve the health, clinical outcomes, productivity and quality of life of their employees and dependents."
The key components of the award-winning programs are:
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Innovative approaches and solutions to address disparities, promote health equity and helping all employees achieve optimal health and well-being;
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Analyses of disparities/health equity data to determine gaps in care;
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The use of segmented and culturally and linguistically appropriate communications; and
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Results the programming has on the employee population and/or community.
American Express
American Express has been a leader in using aggregate, trend data to understand and address health care gaps and disparities among its employee population. Through anonymous annual surveys, American Express learned that medical and pharmaceutical costs were twice as much for diabetics than for non-diabetics. In 2012, the company launched an educational program, Healthy Living with Diabetes, eventually rolling it out online, to all U.S. employees. In addition, the company partnered with its internal Employee Network groups to create tailored programs that engaged employees most at risk for diabetes. In November 2015, American Express launched a diabetes awareness campaign featuring a hip-hop legend and reality television star, who provided his personal story of how diabetes impacted his family. American Express' Healthy Living with Diabetes educational program, and its many initiatives tailored to the meet the needs of its diverse workforce, have demonstrated a reduction in risk factors and positive behavior change.
Cigna
Cigna's commitment to cultivating health equity and improving access to high quality care focuses on multiple initiatives and programs. Its goal is to help every individual obtain the information needed to be and stay healthy, and ultimately enhance the quality of life at home, in the workplace and in the community. Cigna's expanded data analysis has enabled the company to identify disparities and deliver culturally tailored interventions in local markets. One initiative is a collaboration between the Cigna Foundation and the University of Maryland Center for Health Equity to conduct education and outreach in African-American barber and beauty shops to increase screening for colon cancer. Another effort addresses hypertension and obesity in some employee populations through a collaboration with employers that serve on Cigna's Health Disparities Advisory Council. Programs such as these are made possible by an impressive array of training and resources available to Cigna employees to support the company's ability to assess and respond to the needs of an increasingly diverse customer base.