SAN DIEGO, March 31, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- American Specialty Health (ASH) wellness subsidiary Healthyroads recently announced that it has been selected by the National Governors Association (NGA) to provide the Healthyroads Coaching and Reward Programs to the organization's employees.
Effective Jan. 1, NGA employees are now eligible to participate in the Healthyroads Coaching Programs for Weight Management, Tobacco Cessation, and Healthy Living. The programs start with outreach calls to welcome NGA employees, and also include assistance in setting and tracking employees' health and wellness goals. NGA employees can then get started utilizing the programs' telephone-based motivational and goal-oriented coaching, which is provided by registered dietitians, certified personal trainers, registered nurses, and other health educators.
The Healthyroads Coaching Programs also feature a variety of online tools providing e-communication, health status trackers, and health resources. As an added bonus, NGA employees can receive discounts of up to 40 percent on the more than 2,400 health and wellness products-including nutrition bars, homeopathic remedies, tobacco cessation tools, and fitness equipment-available online at Healthyroads.com(R).
To encourage continued participation, Healthyroads offers NGA employees the opportunity to earn a cash reward of $100 every four months when they participate in at least two coaching sessions per month. In addition, NGA employees are eligible to take part in Healthyroads' Get Healthy! National Awards Program, which awards prizes such as a shopping spree or a new car to selected participants from across the country who demonstrate the most significant improvement in their health through their use of the Healthyroads Coaching Programs.
"Wellness programs such as the Healthyroads Coaching Programs play a key role within employee benefit plans," noted ASH chairman, president, and chief executive officer George DeVries. According to DeVries, this trend is reflected in a June 2005 Deloitte Center for Health Solutions and ERISA Industry Committee survey that found that over 60 percent of U.S. employers have implemented formal wellness programs to educate employees on proper nutrition and fitness, lower employees' risk of developing obesity-related illnesses, and manage rising health care costs.
"More and more employer groups and health plans are recognizing the value of wellness programs as a proven method for improving health over the long term," DeVries said. "The National Governors Association is one such organization, and we are pleased to provide the NGA's employees with the tools and support they need to meet their health and wellness goals."
American Specialty Health, Incorporated and its subsidiaries offer benefit, fitness, and wellness programs to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds nationwide. Healthyroads, Inc. is ASH's wellness, health education, and e-commerce subsidiary, offering award-winning weight management, tobacco cessation, and healthy living programs.
Based in San Diego, ASH has over 500 employees and covers more than 12 million members in benefit programs and more than 500,000 members in wellness programs. For more information, visit ASH online at ASHCompanies.com or call 800.848.3555.
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