World Leader in Well-Being will Oversee and Implement Chicago Wellness Program for the Over 47,000 City Employees and Eligible Spouses

Company Website: http://www.healthways.com
CHICAGO & NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- (Business Wire)

Mayor Emanuel today announced that the City of Chicago has selected Healthways to manage its wellness program for 47,000 city employees and their dependents. The contract runs to the end of 2015.

“This innovative wellness program will allow our employees to take control of their own health and improve their quality of life, which will help them better enjoy their workplace, their city and their time with their families,” said Mayor Emanuel. “I am pleased that Chicago is leading the way in employee wellness.”

Emanuel discussed the wellness program today at a forum in New York City for mayors from around the United States, organized by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Many mayors have expressed interest in adopting a similar program in their own cities.

The agreement with Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY) allows the company to assume full responsibility for the City’s Wellness program that includes employees from five sister agencies, with an opportunity to add new members from additional agencies and union groups over time. Healthways, based in Nashville, Tenn., was chosen after a competitive selection process and assumes responsibility for program management, delivery of services and the implementation of new tools and capabilities.

Under the terms of the agreement, the integrated set of services allows Healthways to generate and manage information so that participants are engaged in programs most appropriate to their individual needs. The program to be delivered includes:

• Biometric Screenings
• Well-Being Assessment™
• Well-Being Connect™, an online wellness portal that includes a personalized well-being plan, groups, challenges and robust health information resources
• Health Advisor/Health Check-Ins
• Health Risk Coaching
• Onsite programming (campaigns, challenges, competitions, onsite in-person coaching) with three wellness coordinators across a broad geographic area
• Custom marketing, incentives management and engagement packages to help develop a program brand that can be built upon year-over-year to build awareness and engagement.

“We are pleased that the City of Chicago has looked to Healthways as a trusted, expert partner in delivering a program that meets the diverse needs of the City of Chicago’s employees, helps them improve their well-being and further contributes to the vibrancy of the city,” said Ben R. Leedle, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Healthways. “Chicago is fast emerging as a leading city in implementing an ambitious program to help reduce future healthcare costs. We credit the City’s leadership and applaud employees who are shoulder-to-shoulder in taking this important step to address the mounting fiscal pressure of health-related costs by creating a healthier Chicago.”

Every employee and eligible spouse has a choice of whether or not to participate in the Wellness program. Participants in the Wellness program are simply required to make an effort and are not required to attain any specific measures. Participation is measured based on a minimal level of monthly activity, which will be determined and measured by Healthways. Healthways has agreed to diligently protect and monitor privacy of employees and their spouses, in conjunction with HIPAA standards.

“This innovative wellness program is the result of a collaborative process between labor and the city through the Labor Management Cooperative Committee,” said Jorge Ramirez, President of the Chicago Federation of Labor. “We are glad to be a step closer toward implementing this initiative that will improve the health of public employees and save the city money.”

This contract is the largest, most comprehensive Government wellness program ever introduced and rivals any private-sector wellness program in its size, breadth of offerings and comprehensive approach. The program was negotiated with the full support of ~40 City labor unions, including Firefighters Local 2, the Police Sergeants union, AFSCME and many other sizeable city unions. Labor technical advisors representing the unions involved were instrumental in the vendor evaluation process – this unprecedented level of procurement cooperation has led to a better program for all participants.

“This is a banner day for the City of Chicago,” said Deputy Mayor Mark Angelson. “The Wellness program will immediately improve the quality of life for many city workers and their spouses, and will save the City millions of dollars over time.”

Chicago entered into a contract with Healthways today, with subsequent sister agency board passage planned at their individual board meetings. The program will begin this summer.

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 health-related costs. Healthways’ solutions are designed to help healthy individuals stay healthy, mitigate or eliminate lifestyle risk factors that can lead to disease 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 and a national Fitness Center 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.

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Contacts:

Mayor’s Press Office
312-744-3334
press@cityofchicago.org
or
Healthways
Investor Relations:
Chip Wochomurka, 615-614-4493
chip.wochomurka@healthways.com

Source: Healthways