Dr Austin Frakt on the Problem of Corporate Wellness Programs

The biggest problem with corporate wellness programs is that they are not as effective as they are claimed they will be, Austin Frakt, PhD, health economist and researcher and the primary author of The Incidental Economist, said at America's Health Insurance Plans' National Health Policy Conference in Washington, DC, March 11-12.

Part of the reason why these programs haven't been able to improve health and lower costs is because they aren't being targeted properly to where healthcare costs are and who can benefit from different types of care. Not all wellness programs have performed poorly, though. Those programs that focus on disease management and preventive care have better outcomes, he said.

"Preventive care doesn't always save money, but for people who have chronic conditions, who are legitimately very sick, it does in those cases," Dr Frakt said. "So that's where you want to focus your efforts."