SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 10

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Dede Feldman

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

EXPLORING THE BENEFITS AND FEASIBILITY OF REQUIRING HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES TO OFFER DISCOUNTED PREMIUMS FOR ENROLLEES WHO PARTICIPATE IN APPROVED HEALTH PROMOTION ACTIVITIES OR WELLNESS PROGRAMS.

     WHEREAS, health promotion is the art of helping persons change their lifestyles to move toward a state of optimal health; and

     WHEREAS, lifestyle changes can occur through a combination of efforts to enhance awareness, change behavior and create environments that support good health practices; and

     WHEREAS, a variety of health promotion and wellness programs are available that have been designed to educate and encourage persons to make voluntary behavioral changes; and

     WHEREAS, these changes can reduce health risks, increase work productivity, enhance well-being and reduce the overall cost of health care; and

     WHEREAS, many premature deaths and illnesses can be prevented and quality of life for millions of people can be enhanced through regular exercise, consumption of healthy and nutritious foods, use of techniques to manage stress and avoidance of smoking and excess alcohol; and

     WHEREAS, many employers have begun incentive programs to encourage employees to engage in healthy activities in order to reduce claims experience and thereby lower the premium cost of covering their employees; and

     WHEREAS, automobile insurance policies routinely offer discounts for responsible and safe driving records, enrollment in driver education courses and other preventive activities; and

     WHEREAS, health insurance policies could offer discounted premiums for specific, identified health promotion activities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health, in conjunction with the insurance division of the public regulation commission, be requested to conduct a study to explore the benefits and feasibility of requiring health insurance companies to offer discounted premiums for enrollees who participate in approved health promotion activities or wellness programs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this study include a projection of the amount of potential reduction in health insurance premiums that could be achieved by such a requirement; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the effect of employee health promotion and wellness programs on the overall health and productivity of employees, and on the cost of claims to employers offering these programs, be explored; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that recommendations on the nature of programs and activities that would constitute an approved health promotion or wellness program be identified; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the findings and recommendations of this study be presented to the legislative health and human services committee in October 2005; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be sent to the secretary of health and to the superintendent of insurance of the public regulation commission.

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