Special Update Part II: UPTE-UCLA Reasons for not participating in

UC's StayWell Program.

 

Staywell: Unions Opt Out Of Program Because of Potentially Dangerous Consequences
UC has contracted with Staywell as a long term strategy to keep health care costs down by targeting our “unhealthy” habits. While we all strive to live more healthy lives, we have serious concerns about Staywell, a for-profit company whose website banner reads “Changing Behavior, Changing Lives To Lower Your [i.e UC's] Health Care Costs.”

At the Alta Bates/Summit hospital in the Bay Area, a program similar to Staywell penalizes employees up to $200 per month for not completing “voluntary” surveys. Similar programs also set penalties for employees who do not follow the “recommendations” they are given for a healthier life style. If that is the kind of plan Staywell will become at UC, we need to stop it now before we are stuck with it for the long term.

UPTE-CWA and other UC unions met with representatives of Staywell and the UC benefits office to get answers to our concerns. We remain unconvinced and will opt out of the program for 2008 because:

  • Possible future financial penalties: according to its own publicity, “Staywell strongly recommends that financial incentives be incorporated into the HA [Health Assessment] implementation strategy” and UC refuses to rule out such incentives or penalties in the future. Penalties could take the form of increased premiums or co-pays for employees who do not fill out the HA or follow Staywell's recommendations.
  • Legal protections against discrimination may not apply: the Wall Street Journal reports that “ Supplemental insurance is exempt from HIPAA, giving employers the potential to penalize or reward employees based on their health status.”
  • Confidentiality uncertain: UC has already provided the names and Social Security numbers of all non-union employees to Staywell without asking for authorization. The Staywell survey asks for family history of cancer, drinking and driving, and other sensitive information. While Staywell has placed a question in the survey that allows participants to have their identifying information removed when their information is shared with the insurers, we remain concerned that insurers will advocate getting the identifying information to maximize their cost savings. We also have concerns about the security of the electronic data, given recent news reports about data security breaches.
  • Insurance companies may use information to our detriment: Even if our survey response is passed on without identifying information, insurance companies can still use the information to design plans to reduce their costs (e.g. cover less psychiatric help, etc.). If the information were being shared with our physician, we could understand that it might be to our benefit, but why share it with an insurance company, which has lots of financial incentives that could result in worse health care for us?
  • Lack of information: UC has still not provided us with its contract with Staywell, stating that it is not final. How can UC not have a final contract when the work is already being performed? UC has not answered many other questions, including how Staywell will keep our information secure.

UPTE-CWA wants to work with UC to develop a long term strategy to provide less expensive and better quality health care that does not compromise our confidentiality. Here are some ideas we want to develop:

  • Real health care reform that reduces insurance profits and controls administrative costs, such as the single-payer proposal (see UPTE-CWA's health care primer).
  • Utilize UC health care facilities staffed by our union members.
  • Healthy living opportunities we control.

Share your input and questions on the UPTE web forum to discuss Staywell and how we can improve our health care at UC.  UPTE is contesting the 'facts' listed by UC in this latest StayWell flyer, that you may download for review.  This message came from the January 2008 UPTE E-Bulletin.

 

Update Part I

On December 19, 2007 UCLA sent an email to employees publicizing the University's StayWell Program. The email indicated that all unions, including UPTE, have decided to opt out of the program, but it did not explain why. If you did not receive the message from UC, you may download it at:

 

http://www.upte-cwa.org/UCLA/StayWell.pdf

 

And there are more details on UCOP's AtYourService website at:

 

http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/news/health/0712-well_prog_launch.html

 

An integral part of StayWell Program is the personal health questionnaire. The responses determine what services and benefits each individual will receive. A third-party company will administer the questionnaire and retain the results. All unions asked the University Office of the President to keep our personal health responses confidential. The University refused and therefore all unions chose to opt out.

 

The company would be able to sell our personal health data to other commercial entities, such as health insurers and employers. The data could be used to reject applications for health insurance, coverage, or even employment at some future time.

 

In 2008, UPTE will begin bargaining healthcare costs, raises, pension costs, and workplace rights for research and technical employees in the next 3 years. Membership participation is an important element in our ability to obtain good benefits and wage increases. In the coming year, UPTE will inform our membership of opportunities to participate in and affect the bargaining process.

 

Have a healthy and happy 2008!

 

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