The new wellness incentive program for faculty and staff enrolled in the University of Missouri System medical plan went into effect in January.
April 30 is the deadline for subscribers of the plan to earn $100 in a tax-favored account to use for medical expenses this year.
All they have to do to get the credit is complete a 15-minute personal health assessment questionnaire and attend a health screening, or send in screening information from a physician visit that occurred no earlier than last July 1, said Laura Schopp, director of Healthy for Life. “The incentive will be available 30 days after completing both the online health assessment and screening,” Schopp said.
“The purpose of the program is to engage faculty and staff as full and effective partners in promoting their health, and it allows for early detection of common chronic health conditions when they are most treatable,” Schopp said. The project is a partnership between the T.E. Atkins UM Wellness Program, the UM Office of Faculty and Staff Benefits and the Tiger Institute.
Here is how to get started:
1. Create a Cerner Health Account online. Cerner Health is a personal, confidential health platform that allows users to maintain a personal health record. It also is where the personal health assessment must be completed.
2. Join Healthy for Life. After creating your account, enter your Pawprint and join the program.
3. Complete your personal health assessment and health screening.
There are two ways to complete the health screening.
First, free screenings will be conducted on campus at scheduled times before April 30. Some dates allow walk-ins, but an appointment is preferred and can be set up at healthyforlife.umsystem.edu.
Second, faculty and staff can have the screening completed by their primary health care providers and have the results sent to the UM System to complete the incentive program. The form for physician screening information can be found at wellness.umsystem.edu.
“Investing in prevention ensures that the university will have a vibrant and productive workforce to carry out our missions of teaching, research, service and economic development,” Schopp said.