Access to health promotion, wellness, and complementary and alternative providers in Fortune 500 companies

Corporate America funds a significant proportion of healthcare costs for their employees. One approach to controlling these costs is the utilization of health promotion and wellness (HP&W) models. Inclusion of Complementary and Alternative Health Care (CAM) providers who are often associated with wellness models of care may also offer cost effective alternatives. Currently, employee access to specific HP&W initiatives is not well characterized. Data concerning more progressive integrated models of care within industry are lacking and access of the American workforce to complementary and alternative care providers is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine corporate perceptions of employer provided access to HP&W programs and CAM providers and perceptions of program implementation or expansion. Survey methods in the form of a self administered paper questionnaire were used in a saturation sample of the Chief Medial Officers (CMO) or their designates of Fortune 500 companies regarding current HP&W offerings, access to traditional and CAM providers, health incentives, and perception of utility of these programs in decreasing costs and increasing productivity. High rates of access to multiple HP&W programs, teams of traditional and some CAM providers, and plans for future expansion were reported by respondent companies. Respondents also reported high rates of utilization and cost tracking. Rates varied significantly across several company characteristics.