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Healthways Announces 5-Year Expansion and Extension of Relationship with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield

^{Published on 2011-08-10 07:41:22 - Market Wire}
 

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY) announced a five-year expansion and extension of its seven-year relationship with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in support of the Healthiest State Initiative announced today by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. The nationa™s first statewide comprehensive well-being improvement program, the Healthiest State Initiative is designed to help Iowa become the number one ranked state for well-being as measured by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index^® (WBI) within five years. This business-led, government-endorsed effort is expected to help Iowans live longer, healthier and more productive lives, while also enabling the state to redirect billions of dollars currently spent on healthcare to efforts that will further grow the statea™s economy.

"With todaya™s announcement, Iowa has taken the lead among states that recognize that the key to unleashing their potential for economic development and job creation is through a healthy, productive and engaged workforce"

Wellmark and Healthways will implement a centerpiece of Iowaa™s Healthiest State Initiative, a 10-community Blue Zones Projecta". Blue Zones, of which there are only five worldwide and only one in the US, are geographically defined places where people live measurably longer, happier and more productive lives with lower rates of chronic disease and a higher quality of life. The Iowa Blue Zones Project represents the largest comprehensive well-being improvement initiative ever launched.

aWith todaya™s announcement, Iowa has taken the lead among states that recognize that the key to unleashing their potential for economic development and job creation is through a healthy, productive and engaged workforce,a said Healthwaysa™ president and CEO Ben R. Leedle, Jr. aImproved well-being has been scientifically validated to improve health, lower cost and improve individual and workforce productivity and performance. Analysis indicates that a sustained improvement of one percent in well-being translates to a one-percent reduction in health-related costs.a

aHistoric efforts to educate individuals about the value of choosing a healthy lifestyle, while effective for some, are clearly not enough to drive meaningful improvement in well-being. To make a real difference, we need a community-based approach designed to fundamentally transform the environment in which Iowans live, work, learn, and play,a said John Forsyth, Wellmark chairman and chief executive officer. aOur collaboration with Healthways on The Blue Zones Project is a long-term investment designed to make lasting changes in the health and well-being of Iowans. We believe our collective efforts will result in reduced healthcare costs, improved individual and business productivity, and ultimately foster economic development in Iowa.a

Leedle added, aA transformational initiative of this scale requires a multitude of leaders and organizations to be committed to a common vision and goal, as well as to measures that ensure accountability. Nowhere has this commitment been more fully exemplified than by Governor Branstad, John Forsyth from Wellmark, Ric Jurgens from Hy-Vee and Doug Reichardt from The Iowa Sports Foundation. Their passion and leadership will continue to be crucial to improving the well-being of people throughout Iowa, and we are honored and privileged to add our unique solutions to this initiative.

aThese solutions reflect, in addition to deep collaboration with Wellmark, the seamless integration of skills, resources and learning developed in our business over the last two decades or more. Healthways ability to provide a comprehensive, scientifically based, empirically measured solution to improve well-being at scale is a direct result of our investment over a number of years in the varied capabilities required to achieve this goal.

aAmong other levers we will engage to optimize well-being in Iowa are:

• Continuous support of the individual a" we provide interventions integrating the latest behavior change science that support day-to-day decision making by individuals and that influence behavior change.
• Expanded access to experts a" in addition to the extensive Wellmark network of physicians, hospitals, pharmacists and other sources of medical expertise, we bring our lifestyle network of nurses, coaches and other behavior change experts, providing support to individuals who seek health services outside of, and in conjunction with, the traditional healthcare system.
• Leverage of social networks a" we tap into the substantial power of family, friends and co-workers to enhance commitment and accountability to embracing positive health behaviors.
• Improved physical environment a" we guide communities in transforming the places where people live, work, learn and play to make the healthy choice the easiest choice.

• Innovative policy changes a" we bring together public and private leaders to effect new policies that drive improved well-being.a

Leedle concluded, aWe are confident of the potential of this initiative, in part, because it aligns the incentives for all parties toward success. In addition, this initiative builds on our long-term progression on a strategic path in which the comprehensiveness, integration and scope of our solutions a" and thereby our value proposition - has continually expanded.a

About Healthways

Healthways is the leading provider of specialized, comprehensive solutions to help millions of people maintain or improve their health and well-being and, as a result, reduce overall costs. Healthwaysa™ solutions are designed to keep healthy people healthy, reduce health-related risks and optimize care for those with chronic illness. Our proven, evidence-based programs provide highly specific and personalized interventions for each individual in a population, irrespective of age or health status, and are delivered to consumers by phone, mail, internet and face-to-face interactions, both domestically and internationally. Healthways also provides a national, fully accredited complementary and alternative Health Provider Network, offering convenient access to individuals who seek health services outside of, and in conjunction with, the traditional healthcare system. For more information, please visit [ www.healthways.com ].