Should Population Health Management Participation Be Mandatory?
Health IT Analytics December 2, 2014
Will a mandatory state population health management program in Maryland improve health for its employees?
Starting January 1, 2015, state employees in Maryland will be required to participate in a population health management and wellness program or face financial penalties related to healthcare services,say local news outlets. Patients who receive state-provided health insurance will initially face a $50 annual penalty if they do not participate in certain wellness, fitness, or chronic disease management programs intended to reduce healthcare spending, and the penalties could increase to $450 per year by 2017.
The program, which begins January 1, 2015, is anticipated to cut the state’s spending on healthcare by $4 billion over the next ten years. Employees will be required to choose...