Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 H E A LT H Y B U S I N E S S F RO M T H E E D I TO R M edical costs continue to weigh on the minds of business own- ers, HR professionals and the employ- ees — all of whom struggle with the burden of higher premiums. With this inaugural issue of Healthy Business, we at Mainebiz want to off er a roadmap — or better yet, a GPS — to help businesses get through the changes in the health care system. "We decided to produce Healthy Business to help business own- ers navigate the complicated issues associated with keeping both their employees and their bottom lines healthy," Donna Brassard, publisher of Mainebiz, says. "While Mainebiz reports on the health care industry in Maine — Healthy Business features advice and information to assist busi- ness owners in making good deci- sions related to employee wellness and productivity, medical insurance plan options, and risk and expense man- agement. We've turned to industry experts for up-to-date information on regulations and new ideas that can aff ect a company's operations and bot- tom line. Plus, we've reached out to business owners and HR professionals to share their personal stories so we can learn from their experiences." is issue of Healthy Business would not be possible without the hard work of Senior Writer James McCarthy, our health care beat reporter. Jim planned out the issue, con- ceived of the story ideas and assigned the stories. He worked with our research director, Roger Magnus, to upgrade our lists. He worked closely with our designer, Matt Selva. In Ironman fashion, Jim even wrote two of the stories you see here. One of Jim's stories talks about pri- vate exchanges, and looks at a program being launched by Cross Insurance. "It was driven by what's occur- ring in the health care industry," Cross Employee Benefi ts President Mike Deschaine tells Jim. " e feedback has been tremendously positive from our customers. e carriers view this as cut- ting edge. We're trying to achieve 100% participation with the [health insurance] carriers in Maine and we'll be forming strategic partnerships with ancillary car- riers, so if someone wants to buy vision, home and auto insurance, our exchange will have those options available as well." Jim compares the changes back to how companies shifted from defi ned benefi t plans to 401(k) plans, where employees share the cost. Elsewhere, Jim looks into the trends spotted in a PwC report, "Medical Cost Trend: Behind the Numbers 2016." In trying to fi gure out what's ahead, Jim has three case studies that show how Maine stakeholders are responding to changes in health care costs. Also in this issue, we look at the changing nature of the workplace itself. Hemingway was said to have stood while he worked, but now we're seeing more research about the dan- gers of prolonged sitting. e people who are at their desks for eight hours a day are more likely to experience cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. At Kleinschmidt, a Pittsfi eld company, about 15% of employees are now using standing desks, which the company said is resulting in employ- ees having more energy. In a larger sense, an increasing number of employers are invest- ing in wellness programs as a way to keep the workforce healthier, while reducing health care costs. On-site gyms have been around for decades, but we're seeing a greater number of on-site yoga classes and lunch- time walking sessions, as well as an infl ux of workplace resources to help employees make sound choices. We also have a How To column that points out what employers should do to avoid overstepping the boundaries with employees. At the heart of all of this is the reminder that companies are made up of people and the health of those people ultimately benefi ts the health of the companies. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz A guide for navigating health care The all about workplace safety blog. Anyone can subscribe to www.memicsafetynet.com, our blog about all topics related to workplace safety, and join in the conversation with MEMIC safety experts about current issues or ideas. Share your experiences or simply use these informative ideas to help you tackle your own safety challenges. Sign up today and get safety tips delivered right to your in-box. New blogs are posted every week about important safety topics such as preventing slips, trips and falls; safe lifting practices, sleep depravation; personal protective equipment; back pain; distracted driving; stretching; ergonomics and safe patient handling. Check out the most recent blog about workplace wellness programs. www.memicsafetynet.com www.memic.com safetynet

• Cover