Watch CBS News

Inspector General Questions Impact Of Employee Wellness Program

CHICAGO (CBS) -- City Hall's official watchdog has raised questions about the effectiveness of the Emanuel administration's program to improve city employees' health.

Chicago Inspector General Joseph Ferguson's latest report found the city has paid American Healthway Services more than $3 million a year to administer the employee wellness program, but the administration has done nothing to track the company's performance.

Ferguson said the program is an "admirable first attempt" to promote better health for city workers, but the failure to track results raises questions about whether it provides actual benefits.

"The uncertainty surrounding the effectiveness of this and other employee wellness programs makes it critical that the city use the data and lessons gleaned from the first two years of the program either to set and track explicit goals tailored to measurable, targeted policy objectives or allow the current multimillion dollar contract to sunset at the end of fiscal year 2015 and until such time as the city can identify measurable expectations and outcomes," he wrote. "In light of the current fiscal challenges, the city — however well-intentioned—simply cannot afford to invest in programs that have no discernible impact."

Podcast

Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he originally wanted some measures of whether employees were dealing with diabetes, weight problems, or other health issues; but there was some resistance.

"If you want to see both improved healthcare, and further reduction in long-term healthcare costs, you not only have to have participation, but you have to be able to measure progress, which is what – I think, I haven't seen Joe's report – that's what the piece is," he said.

The mayor said, going forward, he'd like to see some measures of success put into place, but he said the city has to get labor unions to agree to measure employees' progress in the program.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.