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| May 2008 | français|
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First Annual Atlantic Human Resources Conference HR’s
Body of Knowledge Evolves with Business World HRANB Membership Survey Results HRANB and CCH Canadian Partner to Launch PD Webinars A
Quiet Crisis Threatens Canadian Workplaces Paramedical
services as a component of your organization’s wellness strategy Second
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May 2008 Newsletter Paramedical
Services as a Component of Your Organization’s Wellness Strategy These days it seems we're all talking about our aging population, we're focusing more on wellness and prevention and our attitudes towards natural therapies are shifting. And, while I'll reserve my judgment for the time being as to what extent these trends will impact things like government and educational programs and health care spending, one thing I do know is that the delivery of health care services is changing before our eyes. Take paramedical services, for instance. For years, insurers have offered coverage of these services and, while plan members have reaped the health benefits they offer, insurers have been trying to find ways to deal with their increasing claim trends. In general, over the past five years the cost per covered subscriber for physiotherapy, massage therapy and chiropractic services, the three most commonly used benefits, has increased by 53.8%. This translates to an average increase of approximately 10.7% per year1. As insurers continue to grapple with these increasing trends, many people are asking whether paramedical services are absolutely necessary or whether they are a luxury benefit? Massage therapy is a perfect example of this conundrum. Also referred to as the ‘feel good’ therapy, it continues to increase in popularity but many are wondering whether it offers any lasting health benefits. There are several factors influencing the utilization of massage therapy, including an increase in referrals from psychologists, physicians, chiropractors and physiotherapists; a desire to incorporate natural remedies into the treatment of various conditions; an increase in ‘specialty’ massages such as pregnancy massage and more widespread acceptance of the efficacy of various massage techniques for the treatment/management of chronic conditions. But what about the health benefits of massage therapy services? While many argue that more randomized and large-scale studies are required, there is some evidence showing the benefits of infant massage on hormones influencing stress levels as well as improvements in mother-infant interaction, sleep and relaxation and a reduction in crying2. If it works for infants, why then do we have such a hard time believing in the health benefits among adults? As the demand for paramedical services increases, we are seeing more private practices established. Just as we saw this trend several years ago with physiotherapists, we are seeing the same thing happening with occupational therapists and dieticians. Additionally, there are more clinics now offering an array of health care services by a variety of health care professionals; it's one-stop shopping to soothe the mind, body and soul. And just around the corner we'll see services such as acupuncture, naturopathy and homeopathy increasing in popularity. Ultimately, the goal of offering paramedical coverage is to keep employees healthy and functional and, therefore, these services continue to be an important part of extended health care benefits. However, as we see these services becoming more popular, it reminds us of the importance of having plan designs such as benefit maximums and co-insurances that help control costs and trends. Additionally, diligent audit practices remain important components to maintaining affordable coverage. Now is the time to get creative with products and practices that keep financial health in mind while managing group benefits. For instance, wellness and organizational health products designed to assist in weight loss and smoking cessation are ideal avenues to offer coverage for complimentary and alternative medicine such as dieticians and acupuncture. This allows plan sponsors to integrate the 'traditional' paramedical practitioner benefits to their organizational health strategy while offering add-on coverage for those wanting to incorporate natural therapies into their lifestyle. In today's world, a 'one size fits all' approach, well, simply doesn't fit. Paramedical services should be designed around the unique needs of the group and as part of an organization health and wellness strategy versus a standard package. Understanding the demographics, industry type, workplace culture and overall needs in a health care plan ensures the right type of practitioner services are added with the appropriate plan design. 1 Based on Medavie Blue Cross claim trends 2
"Massage intervention for promoting mental and physical health
in infants aged under six months" (The Cochrane Collaboration
2006) |