Practice Management

84 percent of employers say improving employee productivity is an important benefits objective.

Wellness programs and savings plans continue growth.

The most common strategy used was to ask employees to pay more via the medical plan design (46 percent).

Businesses with 25 or fewer employees and with average annual wages of $40,000 or less are eligible for a credit of up to 50 percent of nonelective contributions they make toward insurance premiums for their employees.

Findings from a recent Hewitt Associates survey determined employers depend on both penalties and incentives to encourage their employees to participate in wellness programs.

A new study by Thomson Reuters finds health care costs for employers increased 7.3 percent in 2009, a climb from 6.1 percent 2008.