Humana increased the number of "healthy days" its employees experience by 1.8 million since 2012 under its "Bold Goal" project.
Here are five things to know about the effort.
1. The insurer reported the finding in its 2018 Bold Goal Progress Report, which measured the progress of Humana's aspiration to improve the health of its communities by 20 percent by 2020. The initiative, announced in 2015, focuses on collaborating with local public health and care intervention programs in 12 metro areas, including Baton Rouge, La.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Louisville, Ky.; and New Orleans.
2. Humana estimates one "unhealthy day" costs $15.64 per person per month in medical care. Humana uses the CDC's "Healthy Days" survey tool as a benchmark for community health. The survey tool measures a person's holistic health, including mental and physical health.
3. Of the 12 Bold Goal communities, Humana Medicare members in Knoxville, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and San Antonio saw healthy days and clinical outcomes improve. Humana Medicare members in Louisville; Tampa Bay, Fla.; and Broward County, Fla., saw unhealthy days increase. However, seniors living with chronic conditions like diabetes and depression also saw healthy days and clinical outcomes increase in these areas.
4. Sixty-three percent of employees under the program lowered or maintained biometric health risks linked to chronic diseases, despite aging five years, according to the report. This reversed the trend Humana had expected.
5. Overall, the program has led to an 18 percent improvement in healthy days across Humana employees.
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