Sept. 5, 2008

Thanks to your participation in MyHealth, great things are happening!

The MyHealth partnership — among staff members, UPMC, and UPMC Health Plan — has introduced programs, tools, and initiatives to improve our health. Through this partnership, we all can benefit by being healthier and more productive, and by enabling UPMC to maintain affordable medical coverage.

By improving our health, we all help slow the rising costs of health care, enabling UPMC to continue to provide its employees with medical coverage that is affordable and an excellent value.

Eight tons of success

Between March and June 2008, nearly 2,800 UPMC staff members combined to lose more than 8 tons as part of the 12-week MyHealth Weight Race. Participants lost an average of 5.8 pounds each, and everyone took steps toward creating a healthier lifestyle by collaborating with their colleagues to build a support network for weight management.

Breathing easier

In 2007, UPMC’s campuses went smoke-free — and more than 2,000 employees who were smokers took advantage of the MyHealth copay waiver on smoking cessation products, as well as health coaching and online smoking cessation resources.

The result? 870 new nonsmoking employees, and a healthier environment for all UPMC employees and patients.

Building on this success, in 2008 a $0 copay opportunity supported by health coaching was accepted by more than 400 eligible staff and their eligible dependents.

Impacting chronic conditions

Treatment for the top two chronic conditions treated in UPMC staff and their dependents — high blood pressure and high cholesterol — decreased 0.9 percent from 2006 to 2007. The number of members with no chronic condition increased from 57.9 percent to 58.3 percent during that same period.

Working out without leaving work

Through a partnership with the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, UPMC staff are enjoying the benefits of fitness without leaving their office building. In the past six months, more than 425 UPMC employees have enjoyed Zumba, yoga, kickboxing, Pilates, and more with on-site MyHealth fitness classes at special pricing for UPMC staff.

Knowing your health risks

Nearly 2,500 new UPMC employees received free biometric screenings between February and June 2008 — including some whose screenings showed health risks that they could begin to address at once through MyHealth programs and services. Free screenings are still available for staff who have yet to receive one. Schedule yours today with MyHealth Online via My HUB.

Fitness at a special rate

Many employees have taken advantage of special promotional pricing on individual and family YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh memberships so they can make use of all the YMCA has to offer — including the new facility in the U.S. Steel Tower.

Earning the credit

In the current benefits year, more than 90 percent of UPMC employees who have medical coverage through UPMC took advantage of the opportunity to receive a MyHealth deductible credit of $200 individual/$400 family.

For 2009, the deductible credit is worth $250 individual/$500 family. With the Nov. 15 deadline several weeks away, more than 30 percent of eligible staff have completed both of the steps needed to receive the deductible credit and more than 60 percent have completed one step. To see whether you have met your deductible requirements, visit the Take a Healthy Step website on MyHealth Online, available through My HUB.

Coaching toward success

Currently more than 400 UPMC employees participate, free of charge, in health coaching programs for weight management and tobacco cessation. Many more work with health coaches in programs on nutrition, back health, physical activity, and stress management. For information on how you can work with a health coach to reduce your health risks and improve your quality of life, call 1-800-807-0751.

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