Comprehensive Wellness Initiative: Testing Update, 5/11/10
Dr. Jack Walker, executive administrator for the State Health Plan, reported Plan election statistics to the Committee on Employee Hospital and Medical Benefits (Legislative Oversight Committee) on May 5. Following the recent 2010 annual enrollment, approximately 20% of Plan members elected the 70/30 Plan, compared with only 6% in the current year. Previous statistics indicated that about 15% of Plan members are tobacco users. This new distribution is consistent with Plan forecasts. It also indicates that employees have been forthcoming in their responses during this enrollment and are, overall, in compliance with the requirements of the Comprehensive Wellness Initiative.
Therefore, Dr. Walker has recommended that random testing is unnecessary for this Plan year. The members of the Legislative Oversight Committee voted to accept Dr. Walker’s recommendation.
Confirmation of Other Key Points:
- For those members who are involved in tobacco cessation programs during the 2010-2011 Plan Year, the Plan reserves the right to request a copy of the Physician Certification Form -- or the Letter of Enrollment provided by QuitlineNC-- to verify program participation.
- The Plan also reserves the right to conduct random testing in the next Plan Year, if enrollment statistics indicate the need to do so.
