Mich. Bill Rewards Healthy Behavior

Insurance companies and HMOs in Michigan would be required to offer financial incentives that reward people for healthy behavior under legislation introduced Thursday in the state Senate, according to Associated Press.

Sen. Tom George, a Portage Republican and practicing physician, said the state is facing a public health crisis steeped in poor dieting, smoking and a lack of exercise. State law currently bars health insurance companies from offering incentives for good behavior — unlike life, auto and home insurers.

He said the legislation is aimed at helping smaller businesses that aren’t big enough to self-insure. Self-insured companies have more freedom to create incentive programs for their workers, though it’s unclear how many are doing so.

Businesses would not be required to buy insurance that rewards healthy living, George said.

Altarum, an Ann Arbor-based nonprofit research institute, released a 2004 study showing Michigan with high rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and smoking compared with other states.

George also is an architect of a new plan requiring Medicaid recipients to sign an agreement pledging to follow healthy lifestyles. He wants to charge Medicaid patients less for services if they exercise regularly and don’t smoke. But his proposal stalled in budget negotiations, and lawmakers are continuing to study the idea.

The healthy behavior bills are Senate Bills 848-49.