Wellness Center reminds employees about March 31 deadlines

Thursday, March 31, is the deadline for WVU Medicine employees and covered spouses of union employees to complete two items, following the benefit re-enrollment wellness screenings.

The Wellness Center is reminding employees and covered spouses of union employees of the March 31 deadline for completing a Health Management Program. The programs are for WVU Medicine employees who fully participated in the benefit re-enrollment wellness screenings and who fell into the silver category due to having at least one measured value out of the normal limits. In order to stay at the silver rate, employees and covered spouses of union employees must participate in a Health Management Program and complete it by March 31. If not completed in the time frame, insurance premium rate will move to bronze. Also, if either the employee or the covered spouse uses tobacco, each will need to enroll and complete the online tobacco cessation workshop through Geisinger Smart Steps by March 31 to remain at the silver rate.

To start a program, visit the Wellness Center website and click on the banner titled, "Health Management Programs."

In addition, WVU Medicine employees who are at the silver rate have the chance to save and get the least expensive insurance premium rate. Employees and covered spouses of union employees who have a measured value out of the normal limits after going through the wellness screenings can achieve the reasonable alternative standard and move up to the gold rate for the 2016 plan year.

Measured values out of normal limits must be addressed by the following standards by March 31:

• BMI – 12-week weight loss goal of 5 percent, not to exceed 12 pounds, or move to a BMI of less than 26, whichever is less.
• Blood pressure, LDL, glucose – decrease by 10 percent (for blood pressure, each number that is above range) or achieve normal limits, whichever is less. Glucose and LDL lab orders will be placed by the Wellness Center, and employees will need to turn in lab results to the Wellness Center.
• Tobacco use – complete the online tobacco cessation program through Geisinger Smart Steps by March 31.

Employees and covered spouses of union employees need to improve only one biometric to move to gold and complete the tobacco cessation program, if applicable.

Questions? Call the Wellness Center’s main office at 304-293-2520.