The study uses the Healthy Days population health tool from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which measures both mentally and physically Unhealthy Days over a 30-day period. (Photo: Shutterstock)
According to Humana, a sufficient effort is not being made to address economic, social and environmental barriers to health by the traditional health care system in the U.S., which influences both physical and mental health.
But its "Bold Goal" strategy, which it defines in its 2018 Bold Goal Progress Report as "a comprehensive business and health strategy dedicated to improving the health of the communities we serve 20 percent by 2020," is helping communities achieve progress in maintaining or reducing health risk.
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According to the report, Humana is "targeting priority conditions and social determinants of health, both inside and outside of the clinical setting," in an effort to "creat[e] evidence-based, scalable and financially sustainable solutions with community partners and physician practices." The study uses the Healthy Days population health tool from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which measures both mentally and physically Unhealthy Days over a 30-day period, to show a direct link between improved health, positive business results and social impact.
The report finds that, among other results, Humana employees accumulated 1.8 million more Healthy Days over the last five years, achieving an overall 18 percent improvement toward their 2017 Bold Goal. Knoxville, Tennessee; Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana; and San Antonio, Texas all had improved Healthy Days as well as improved clinical outcomes; in addition, Knoxville experienced a 5.4 percent improvement in Healthy Days due to community outreach efforts that improved clinical outcomes in diabetes.
Louisville, Tampa Bay and Broward County, Florida saw increases in Unhealthy Days, but also experienced slight improvements in clinical outcomes and in Healthy Days in Humana seniors living with conditions such as COPD, diabetes and depression. Improvements were noted despite 13,000 employees facing a direct physical and mental health impact from Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Irma in Florida and Maria in Puerto Rico.
Humana also expanded its clinical and community interventions around food insecurity, loneliness and social isolation, all of which are associated with adverse health outcomes. Says the study, "Through a 'whole-person' approach toward health and well-being improvement, Humana's experience and success within its employee population has also accelerated deeper understanding of how social determinants of health impact our communities."
Food insecurity, for instance, which affects one in eight Americans, leads to a 50 percent higher instance of diabetes among food-insecure seniors as well as a rate of depression three times higher. In addition, seniors who are socially isolated or lonely, the report finds, are 3.4 times more likely to suffer depression.
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Marlene Satter
Marlene Y. Satter has worked in and written about the financial industry for decades.
