URAC announced that Healthways, Inc. (NASDAQ: HWAY) is among the first
to achieve accreditation for its new Comprehensive Wellness program.
Achievement of this status means Healthways has demonstrated its
commitment to industry-recognized program quality standards and has
earned the URAC seal of approval.
Healthways’ comprehensive wellness solutions are helping approximately
30 million people maintain and improve their health. Healthways’
programs are designed to help healthy individuals stay healthy and
mitigate the impact of family and lifestyle risk factors. Healthways’
solutions are designed to inspire healthier lifestyles at each stage of
life.
"Healthways has a long commitment to delivering best-in-class, evidence
based solutions to improve health, and URAC’s new Comprehensive Wellness
standards and measures provide an essential framework for wellness
program evaluation and performance measurement,” said James Pope, M.D.,
executive vice president, chief science officer, Healthways. "We are
pleased to receive this confirmation of our commitment to rigorous
quality standards for our wellness programs.”
Comprehensive Wellness is the first new accreditation program from URAC
with integrated program evaluation and performance measurement
components. The standards were developed by an expert advisory group of
employers, health plans, consumer representatives, public benefits
organizations, health care professional associations, providers and
wellness companies.
"Healthways has distinguished itself by being among the first Wellness
companies in the nation to earn accreditation in this arena,” said Alan
P. Spielman, URAC’s president and CEO. "It demonstrates the organization
has met objective criteria surrounding its quality practices and is a
signal to employers of Healthways’ commitment to excellence.”
According to the Society for Human Resource Management, about 86 percent
of U.S. employers currently offer wellness programs to their employees.1
Employers have embraced worksite wellness programs as a means to
improve, maintain and support employee health and to enhance
productivity. URAC’s Comprehensive Wellness Standards and Measures
provide a tangible means for employers to evaluate wellness program
capabilities and performance.
Safe Harbor Provisions
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based
upon current expectations and involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. In order for Healthways to utilize the "safe harbor”
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
investors are hereby cautioned that these statements may be affected by
the important factors, among others, included in the discussion in Part
I, Item 1A, and Part II, Item 7, of Healthways' Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year end ended August 31, 2008, and other reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consequently, actual
operations and results may differ materially from those expressed in
these forward-looking statements. Healthways undertakes no obligation to
update or revise any such forward-looking statements.
About URAC
URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader
in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and education
programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and
services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care
system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate
their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based
governance structure and an inclusive standards development process,
URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing
meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For
more information, visit www.urac.org.
About Healthways
Healthways is the leading provider of specialized, comprehensive Health
and Care SupportSM solutions to help millions of people
maintain or improve their health and, as a result, reduce overall
healthcare costs. Healthways' solutions are designed to help healthy
individuals stay healthy, mitigate and slow the progression of disease
associated with family or lifestyle risk factors and promote the best
possible health for those already affected by disease. Our proven,
evidence-based programs provide highly specific and personalized
interventions for each individual in a population, irrespective of age
or health status, and are delivered to consumers by phone, mail,
internet and face-to-face interactions, both domestically and
internationally. Healthways also provides a national, fully accredited
complementary and alternative Health Provider Network, offering
convenient access to individuals who seek health services outside of,
and in conjunction with, the traditional healthcare system. For more
information, please visit www.healthways.com.
1 Gurchiek, Kathy. "Wellness Programs Are Growing Global
Phenomenon, Report Finds.” Society for Human Resource Management.
October 17, 2007. http://www.shrm.org/hrnews_published/archives/CMS_023366.asp.
