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Enrollment in Consumer-Directed Health Plans Growing Rapidly
EXCERPT: "The survey results indicate that enrollment in consumer-directed health plans will grow to
478,000 in 2004, up from 169,000 in 2003. Nearly one-third (32 percent) of large companies expect to offer a
consumer-directed health plan to workers next year, compared to 21 percent that currently offer such a plan.
However, few employers offer them as the only option to their employees. A total of 159 large companies and
9 primary health plans providing consumer-directed health plans participated in the survey."
Full
Article
March 11, 2004—Watson Wyatt Worldwide
Why Health Savings Accounts May Flop
EXCERPT: "In fact, fewer than 0.5% of the 125 million to 150 million Americans covered by health insurance
at work can participate. Why? They don't have the high-deductible plans required as a condition for
contributing. For a single person, the deductible must be $1,000 or higher; it's $2,000 or more for a family."
Full
Article
March 15, 2004—BusinessWeek Online
Engaging Workers in Health Benefit Decisions Appears to Yield Significant Cost Savings
EXCERPT: "Employers with lower health care cost increases for 2004 more often encourage workers to take
responsibility for their health care decisions, according to the 9th annual National Business Group on
Health/Watson Wyatt health cost study. These companies expect a median 7 percent increase in health
care costs this year. Conversely, companies experiencing high cost increases do less to engage workers in
making cost-effective health care decisions and expect a median cost increase of 17 percent."
Full
Article
March 18, 2004—Watson Wyatt Worldwide
UnumProvident Report Shows Tenfold Increase in Obesity-related Disability Claims
EXCERPT: "The number of obesity-related disability claims are on the rise, according to a recent report by
UnumProvident Corporation (NYSE: UNM), the nation’s largest provider of disability income protection
insurance. Further, individuals filing claims related to obesity have significantly higher medical costs,
averaging more than $51,000 per claimant per year...Direct healthcare costs attributable to obesity are now
estimated to be $70 billion, roughly seven percent of total U.S. healthcare costs. Employers lose more than
$12 billion per year due to the consequences of obesity including increased healthcare utilization, lower
productivity, increased absenteeism and elevated health and disability premiums."
Full
Article
February 17, 2004—UnumProvident
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FDA Public Health Advisory
March 22, 2004
Worsening Depression and Suicidality in Patients Being Treated
With Antidepressant Medications
Today the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked manufacturers of the following antidepressant drugs to
include in their labeling a warning statement that recommends close observation of adult and pediatric
patients treated with these agents for worsening depression or the emergence of suicidality. The drugs that
are the focus of this new Warning are: Prozac (fluoxetine); Zoloft (sertraline); Paxil (paroxetine); Luvox
(fluvoxamine); Celexa (citalopram); Lexapro (escitalopram); Wellbutrin (bupropion); Effexor (venlafaxine);
Serzone (nefazodone); and Remeron (mirtazapine).
Health care providers should carefully monitor patients receiving antidepressants
especially at the beginning of therapy or when the dose either increases or
decreases. Although FDA has not concluded that these drugs cause worsening depression or
suicidality, health care providers should be aware that worsening of symptoms could be due to the underlying disease or
might be a result of drug therapy.
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Article
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