Hmmm. I'm all in favor good health, but it always perterbs me a bit when the government steps in.  I hope that universal health care coverage does occur, as I'm tired of big insurance getting big profits, and the docs & nurses who provide the care and expertise getting les & less each year. We're not business people, most of us never will be, and we're being taken advantage of.

But there's a new bit of legislation in the works to shift discussion to prevention of illness in the workplace, as the workplace can't seem to afford health insurance. The bill, the Healthy Workforce Act at http://www.healthpromotionjournal.com/publications/journal/en2007-07.htm, is a 50% tax credit  of the cost of a qualified employer health promotion program, up to $200/employee for the first 200 employees and $100/employee for remaining employees for ten years.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will certify which programs qualify, but all programs must have the following specific features: 1) Include at least three of the following four components: health awareness, behavior change, employee engagement, and supportive environments. 2) Use practices that are consistent with evidence-based research and best-practices strategies. 3) Focus on employee populations with disproportionate health burdens, be culturally competent, and meet employees’ health literacy needs. 4) Offer all programs to all employees who work at least 25 hours per week.

They say that enhanced productivity and attendance at work will cause this tax break to be income neutral to the feds, and it will cost 50 cents per dollar spent to your employer.  So is this going to be a good deal for all of us? Or an effort to justify lack of health nsurance due to company investment in a health program?  Let me know what you think.