"The healthcare industry is being rocked by a perfect storm of escalating cost-drivers.  To weather this storm, we must move from the traditional sick care model to a proactive, prevention-based approach to keep the majority of healthcare consumers who are low risk from moving downstream on the care continuum into chronic illness.  From the corporate workplace to the surrounding communities that form the support systems for us all, The Health & Wellness Institute is a catalyst for this change and an advocate for the integration of prevention into every consumer touch point.  As we work to create and nurture the connective tissue that links individuals and companies to appropriate health management solutions, I will travel the US to help facilitate a dialogue on the difficult challenges and potential solutions for the healthcare industry.  Please join me and my team as we make the case for medical self-responsibility and prove the value of prevention."  

—Michael Samuelson, President & CEO

The Health & Wellness Institute Selected by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield to Provide Wellness Services to Employer Groups

PROVIDENCE, RI (April 9, 2008) - The Health & Wellness Institute, LLC.

The Health & Wellness Institute (HWI) announced today that they have signed a three-year contract to provide health management solutions on behalf of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and its subsidiaries, which include Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. As part of the contract that spans through 2010, HWI will design and deliver onsite and community-based worksite wellness programs and services and provide account management exclusively to Wellmark employer groups and members as part of Whole Health DimensionsSM, Wellmark's new and innovative comprehensive suite of member health and wellness programs and services that are designed to help people lead healthier lives.

"The Health & Wellness Institute looks forward to expanding its strategic relationship with Wellmark, and assisting in the integration of the health management solutions needed to successfully deploy Whole Health Dimensions to Wellmark's book of business," said Michael Samuelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Health & Wellness Institute. "HWI is committed to working with forward-looking Blues Plans seeking to address the rising cost of health care through prevention-oriented services, and we are extremely pleased that Wellmark has joined the growing ranks of health plans employing this strategy."

"Creating and launching the Whole Health Dimensions wellness initiative to complement Wellmark's valued health plan offerings in the Iowa and South Dakota market is a strategic priority," said Peter Roberts, Group Vice President, Provider Relations and Health Management with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "The Health & Wellness Institute, in collaboration with Wellmark, has designed a customized and innovative wellness solution that is unique for Wellmark customers. Through our collaboration with HWI, Iowa and South Dakota employers can choose a variety of wellness services to meet the needs of their organizations. HWI has proven that they can provide the level of service and excellence required to be included in the Whole Health Dimensions suite of services."

About HWI

About Wellmark

Media Contacts
Philip Swayze: 401.228.1338, philip.swayze@hwinstitute.com
Angela Feig: 515.245.4551, feigab@wellmark.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

To learn more about the latest developments in the field of health and wellness, please join us at one of the following events.

2nd Annual Chronic Care and Prevention Congress: Best Practices for Implementing Strategies to Manage Chronic Disease and Empowering Patient-Centered Care Through Innovative Wellness Initiatives

June 1-3, 2008
Westin Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia

We are all aware that a healthcare crisis exists in this country, but would you agree that the crisis is actually twofold - a quality crisis and a cost crisis? The quality of care delivered today remains highly variable, and the cost of healthcare continues to grow at twice the rate of the GDP, making it harder and harder to pay for care.

Michael Samuelson will co-chair this World Congress conference focusing on the challenge to support and lead the emerging standard of chronic disease management. With his extensive experience the health management solutions industry, Samuelson offers unique insights into the chronic care arena as his team at The Health & Wellness Institute work with their clients to integrate prevention and chronic care services at the organizational and individual level.

This exclusive event convenes provider, payer, employer, and public policy thought leaders in an executive networking environment to discuss best practices and partnership initiatives for managing chronic disease and the implementation of prevention and wellness strategies. Keynote speakers include industry leaders, such as Margaret O'Kane, President of the National Committee for Quality Assurance and Gerard Anderson, PhD, Professor of Health Policy and Management and International Health at Johns Hopkins University.

For more information about the 2nd Annual Chronic Care and Prevention Congress, call 800.767.9499 or visit www.worldcongress.com/ccc.

Join Our Health Coaching Webinar!

Coaching Your Way to "Healthy": Keys to Implementing, Integrating and Utilizing Health Coaches

Wednesday, April 23, 2008
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. EST
via www.corpresearchgroup.com

For many, improving health by making lasting behavior change is a challenge. Life pressures—from work, family, responsibilities—can make the path to optimal health seem steep and daunting. An effective Wellness Coach serves as a guide along the path to optimal health, helping to educate and engage clients so that they make new choices and take the necessary steps to improve their health.

While there is no substitute for individuals taking personal responsibility for their own health, at an organizational level, a coaching program can help support employees in making healthier lifestyle choices. These health improvements can have a positive impact on quality of life both inside and outside of work.

But what should an employer look for when choosing a wellness coaching program, and how should a health plan go about integrating coaching into its wellness program? Join industry expert Michael Samuelson as he provides an overview of how health and wellness coaching programs work. He will discuss specific case studies detailing implementation strategies as well as the health benefits and financial savings wellness coaching components can yield. Topics will include:

• Integrating wellness coaches into existing wellness programs vs. implementing a separate wellness coaching program
• What to look for in a prospective wellness coach
• Streamlining wellness programs through wellness coaching
• Optimizing member adoption and utilization of wellness coaching programs
• Realizing the employer benefits by increasing productivity, minimizing turnover, and lowering absenteeism
• Increasing employee-interest in living healthier lifestyles though effective wellness coaching programs
• Transforming online health assessments, web tools, and other elements of wellness programs to be complementary with wellness coaching components

The session will conclude with a 25-minute Q&A to answer your questions about wellness coaching. For more information or to register for the webinar, visit www.corpresearchgroup.com.

About HWI Wellness Coaching

PREVIOUS EVENTS

Webinar on Wellness Plans: The Payoffs & Benefits for ANY Size Organization

Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 2:00 pm EST — 60 minutes

Michael Samuelson to present Wellness Plans: The Payoffs & Benefits for ANY Size Organization webinar on behalf of Business 21 Publishing. Samuelson will share his 30-plus years of experience in the wellness industry as he leads participants through a discussion focusing on how making the workforce healthier can help wellness plans cut costs for big and small companies alike. Industry research shows an average of $1.5 to $3 return on investment for every dollar spent offering wellness solutions to employees. The payoff for employers who offer a benefits package that is integrated with a wellness program can be significant, and most importantly, long-lasting.

The presentation will address:

• The five critical elements of a successful wellness strategy
• How to assess the specific health risks of your workforce and determine which solutions are right for you
• How to determine the ROI you can achieve at your company
• How to secure senior management support for a wellness program at your company
• Incentive strategies for encouraging employees to make healthy lifestyle changes

For more information about about the webinar and Business 21 Publishing, click here.

17th Annual National Health Benefits Conference & Expo

January 17-18, 2008
Tampa Waterfront Convention Center, Tampa, Florida

Michael Samuelson will deliver the keynote session for the Health Benefits Conference & Expo (HBCE) on "The Changing Face of Health Care: Same Players...Merging Roles"

The current health care system is cracked; in fact, many will tell you it's broken. Part of the problem is that—over a period of decades going back to the days of FDR—the system has become increasingly paternalistic and focused on treatment while all but ignoring individual responsibility and prevention. The result: Out of control health spending in a nation of health illiterates. If we are to begin to control the frightening dollar burn rate, we need informed, motivated, and accountable citizens. We need individuals and organizations who will work together to improve everyone's health and economic well-being.

From his seat as a health promotion pioneer in the early 1970s to his current position as President & CEO of The Health & Wellness Institute, Michael H. Samuelson knows this story from all angles. He's been there and he's anxious to share lessons learned from the past, the exciting approach his team is taking at The Health & Wellness Institute, and where he sees prevention will fit into tomorrow's health care landscape.

For more information about HBCE, visit www.HBCE.com

Athletic Business Conference & Expo

November 29-December 1, 2007
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida

Michael Samuelson will present "The Power of the Possible: 10 Key Lessons for Sustained Behavior Change" at a premier educational event for athletics, fitness, and recreation professionals.

Beyond raw data and life's "Hallmark" moments, meaningful behavior change requires visceral engagement that imprints and imbeds new responses to stimuli that previously triggered destructive behavior. Until the individual believes (feels) that current conditions are more painful than projected change, sustained change is doomed to failure. A life-long athlete and prevention expert, Michael's presentation will help you help others to find their pain and initiate meaningful change in their life and health habits.

For more information about the Athletic Business Conference & Expo, visit www.athleticbusinessconference.com

Wellness Incentives Webinar: Rewarding Members for Getting & Staying Healthy

Monday, November 26, 2007 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. EDT - via www.corpresearchgroup.com

The demand for wellness programming with nearly every constituent group and its availability in nearly every medium has allowed it to transcend beyond its historical roll as part of the healthcare industry. It appears that wellness programs are helping employers and health plans alike take more of a proactive approach toward healthcare, and by getting more and more employees to apply medical self-responsibility into their daily activities.

This 90-minute webinar provides an overview of wellness programs as well as specific case studies detailing implementation strategies as well as the financial savings and health benefits that the programs yield. You will learn effective communication and incentive strategies encouraging employees to make beneficial and healthy lifestyle changes. Michael H. Samuelson, president and CEO for The Health & Wellness Institute and Philip Smeltzer, strategy leader of wellness domain for Humana will report from the front lines on how their organizations have successfully implemented wellness programs, developed tools, and set positive results.

Formal presentations will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A to answer your most pressing wellness program questions.

Michael Samuelson to Deliver Webinar for America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP ) on "Furthering a Culture of Wellness & Prevention: Where Do We Go from Here?"

August 16, 2007 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) -- via www.ahip.org

SAS Healthcare and Life Sciences Executive Conference

May 16-17, 2007
SAS Worldwide Headquarters, Cary, North Carolina

Michael Samuelson to join other healthcare innovators at SAS Healthcare and Life Sciences Executive Conference to discuss new strategies for improving healthcare performance management, fraud prediction, disease management and predictive analytics. Former House Speaker and founder of the Center for Health Transformation Newt Gingrich to moderate a panel discussion on how today's antiquated health system can be intelligently transformed by amplifying healthcare provider, payer and life sciences efforts through enhanced data sharing and technology utilization.

National Health, Wellness & Prevention Congress

April 30-May 2, 2007
The Venetian Hotel Resort Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Join Conference Chair's Michael Samuelson, President & CEO, The Health & Wellness Institute and David Pickering, President & Founder, Preventure/International Fitness Club Network and a distinguished list of speakers who will discuss a variety of hot topics in the fitness and prevention fields. Other speakers will include Dr. Don R. Powell, President and CEO of the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, John Harris, M.Ed., FAWHP, Healthways, Inc.; Larry Chapman, Chairman Summex Health Management. 

Consortium Health Plans' 2007 Healthcare Forum

March 19-21, 2007
Scottsdale, AZ

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association's Consortium Health Plans' 2007 Health Care Forum will be held Sunday, March 18, through Wednesday, March 22, at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The Health Care Forum is the ideal gathering for invited consultants and brokers to interact with Blue Plans' national account sales executives and learn what the Blue System can offer their national accounts. Blue Plans extend invitations to consultants who are approved by their respective consulting firms to attend this annual event.

The meeting's agenda is structured to address relevant topics in the national account market and provide an information exchange that benefits both Plan representatives and consultants and brokers.

Join Michael Samuelson and other noted health experts at the 2007 Health Care Forum where healthcare consultants from around the country will gather to talk about provider transparency, consumer-driven health plans, total population management, informatics, networks and much more.

Industry News

January 2, 2007

(Providence, RI) - Today The Health & Wellness Institute (HWI) announces its designation as a for profit limited liability corporation.  With this new status, HWI is now able to work directly with health plans and employer groups nationwide while continuing to serve the people of Rhode Island through its client Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

The Providence, RI headquartered Health & Wellness Institute is a health management solutions company with a mission to reduce risk, improve health and enhance productivity by delivering effective, innovative and comprehensive prevention-oriented programs and services.  Led by nationally recognized wellness expert Michael Samuelson, HWI has a staff of approximately 50 which includes clinical and public health professionals with training in behavior modification and health education, as well as personnel with expertise in social marketing, product development, and information technology. 

"Over the past three years, I've traveled the US talking about the value of delivering a comprehensive package of prevention services at the worksite and there is clearly a high demand in the national marketplace for the type of solutions HWI has to offer," said Michael Samuelson, President and CEO of The Health & Wellness Institute.  "Given my 30 years of experience in the wellness and prevention industry, I am confident that this company will provide the level of quality services needed to create meaningful outcomes for America's workforce."

Assisting Mr. Samuelson in leading HWI will be Chief Operating Officer, Eileen K. Meehan and Chief Innovation Officer William C. Dukes.  With an MBA from The University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business and more than a decade of experience in mergers and acquisitions, Ms. Meehan will oversee strategic operations for the company.  With a rich background in art and technology, Mr. Dukes will apply his many years of experience in the health and technology industry to lead the design and development of all products and services.

"We have worked very hard to launch The Health & Wellness Institute," said COO Meehan.  "In addition to our Rhode Island-based book of business, we have already developed out of state partnerships and have a very promising pipeline of prospects," she added.

December 13, 2006

Live interviews with Dr. Mike Magee, Health Politics about the future of wellness, prevention, and health plans in America.
» more information

November 22, 2006

HSA MarketReview.com "Founder Of New Blues Plan Subsidiary Sees Primary Prevention Moving To Mainstream."
» more information