HHS Releases Proposed Incentives for Nondiscriminatory Wellness Programs

This document proposes amendments to regulations, consistent with the healthcare reform bill, regarding nondiscriminatory wellness programs in group health coverage.  These proposed regulations would increase the maximum permissible reward under a health-contingent wellness program offered in connection with a group health plan from 20 percent to 30 percent of the cost of coverage.  They also propose a further increase to maximum permissible reward to 50 percent for wellness programs designed to prevent or reduce tobacco use.  They also clarify reasonable design of health-contingent wellness programs and the reasonable alternative they must offer in order to avoid prohibited discrimination.  

The full proposed rule can be viewed using the following link:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-11-26/pdf/2012-28361.pdf