In just three years since the inception of King County's Health Reform Initiative, employees and their families have worked more closely with their doctors and other health professionals to improve their well-being.

Unprecedented enrollment means real improvement in personal health

• More than 90 percent of eligible King County employees, their spouses or domestic partners took the wellness assessment in 2006-2008, far above the 50 percent rate typical for the vendor running the program.
• Since the program began in 2006 more people are at lower risk for developing a chronic health condition because of unhealthy behavior. In 2006 44 percent of people who took the wellness assessment were high risk and 51 percent were low risk. In 2008 34 percent of people who took the wellness assessment were high risk and 56 percent were low risk.
• There have been significant improvements in 12 out of 14 health measures.
• Since 2006, the rate at which people are filling their prescription with generic drugs instead of brand name has increased 7.6 percent saving the county close to $3 million.

Programs support healthy choices

Weight Watchers at Work: Since the program began in 2006, nearly 9,000 pounds have been shed by participants and 30 people have achieved lifetime status by maintaining their weight loss. According to the Partnership for Healthy Weight Management, a weight loss of five to 10 percent can measurably improve health outcomes.

Public Health Week Walks: In April 2008, over 1300 employees earned a free pedometer by registering their teams and walking on their lunch hour.

Gym Discounts: Twenty-eight fitness organizations now offer employees an average 20 percent discount at 138 locations throughout the Puget Sound region.

Live Well Challenge: Between 950 and 1,200 employees in upwards of 172 teams have competed annually for fun and prizes in the Live Well Challenge; a highly successful effort to raise awareness and build communities of health throughout King County. Over 75 percent of participants said that they improved nutrition and physical activity behaviors as a result of the Live Well Challenge.

Flu Shots: For three years 33 percent of employees have opted to get flu shots through 36 onsite clinics.

Healthy Vending Machine pilot program: Partnerships with vendors helped to stock vending machines with healthy snack options in the King County Administration Building, the Chinook Building, the Regional Justice Center, and a number of smaller worksites.

Choose Generics: Launched in January of 2007, the visibility of our "Choose Well/Choose Generics" campaign for prescription drugs is already paying off with a 7% increase in the rate of beneficiaries choosing the lower cost - but equally effective -- generic equivalent prescriptions.