Highmark Recognized As One Of America’s Healthiest Companies

One Of Just 59 Companies To Receive Well Workplace Award From Wellness Council Of America

October 27, 2009

Pittsburgh — Highmark Inc. was recognized as one of "America's Healthiest Companies" when it recently received the 2009 Well Workplace Award for its commitment to protecting and enhancing the health and well-being of its employees. As the state's largest health insurer, Highmark provides its 11,000 Pennsylvania-based employees a comprehensive wellness program.

"At Highmark, wellness isn't something we just discuss, it's something we do," said Dr. Donald Fischer, Highmark's chief medical officer. "The health and well-being of employees isn't just a 'feel good' strategy. It's a strategy that has measurable results."

The Well Workplace Award, created by the Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA), provides organizations the opportunity to be evaluated through seven benchmarks that can potentially lead to recognition of achievement in health promotion. The benchmarks include senior-level support, wellness teams, data collection, operating plans, interventions, supportive environments and outcome evaluations.

Highmark earned a gold designation as a company that has successfully built comprehensive worksite wellness initiatives and is demonstrating and documenting concrete outcomes. Highmark is just one of 59 companies to receive the Well Workplace Award this year.

This award recognizes Highmark's continuous efforts to provide employees with a culture of wellness, including an onsite fitness center and ongoing wellness classes.

"Thanks to the company's program, I lost 75 pounds, and I'm determined to keep it off. That's why I'm a regular at the Highmark fitness center," said Highmark employee Lori Wiley. "It's like a home to me …a happy, healthier home."

A Highmark study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine in 2008 showed that employers can save $1.65 in health care expenses for every dollar spent on a comprehensive wellness program. Through a four-year period, Highmark saved $1.3 million on health care costs through its wellness program

"We offer the same employee wellness programs to our customers because we know how effective they can be," said Fischer. "It's just one more way that we're helping our customers better manage their health care costs and engage their work force in wellness."

About Highmark Inc.
As one of the leading health insurers in Pennsylvania, Highmark Inc.'s mission is to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark serves 4.8 million people through the company's health care benefits business. Highmark contributes millions of dollars to help keep quality health care programs affordable and to support community-based programs that work to improve people's health. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughout Pennsylvania. A recent study states that Highmark's positive impact exceeded $2.5 billion. The company provides the resources to give its members a greater hand in their health.

Highmark is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.