Health Risk Assessments: The Purpose

Every day, many people mortgage their long-term health with the lifestyle they lead today. Behaviors such as lack of exercise, smoking, poor diet, and not wearing seat belts are among the factors that increase a person's risk of getting sick or dying prematurely. However, general knowledge of these risks do not always change behavior, and people don't necessarily know which of their risks needs the most attention. Health risk assessments (HRAs) provide a scientific way of turning intuitive knowledge into measurable odds.

Health Risk Assessments and HIPAA Regulations

In an attempt to control ever-spiraling healthcare costs, many employers and health plans are providing incentives to employees and participants to improve their health status (e.g., lose weight or get in better shape). Health risk assessments provide a tool for evaluating health status, identifying opportunities for improvement, and provide valuable feedback to the participant regarding personal health and risk factors for chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease. Additionally, many health plans and employers also provide incentives for participants completing the health risk assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions on Health Risk Assessment and Appraisal

May a health plan disclose to a sponsor (employer) whether an employee/plan participant has completed a health/wellness assessment? Would this decision be impacted by the employer-provided incentives or premium discounts for participation?
RESPONSE: When the employee/participant has agreed to the terms of the health risk assessment and has elected to complete the assessment, the completion status can be disclosed to the sponsor. This would not be impacted by incentives or premium discounts for participation. more

A Guide to Health Risk Assessment

The purpose of this booklet is to provide a basic explanation of risk assessment for laypeople involved in environmental health issues, including policymakers, businesspeople, members of community groups, news reporters, and others with an interest in the potential health effects of toxic chemicals.