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DaimlerChrysler Corporation Receives The 2000 C. Everett Koop National Health Award

20 October 2000

DaimlerChrysler Corporation Receives The 2000 C. Everett Koop National Health Award

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 20 DaimlerChrysler Corporation
and the United Auto Workers (UAW) are being recognized for its outstanding
efforts in improving the health of its employees by reducing health risks and
medical care costs.
    Dr. Koop, the U.S. Surgeon General during the Reagan Administration, will
present the ninth annual C. Everett Koop National Health Award on Thursday,
October 19, to Tom Hadrych, DaimlerChrysler Vice President -- Benefits, during
the Washington Business Group Conference on Health-Disability Management, held
in Washington, D.C.  The awards are sponsored by The Health Project (THP), a
public/private partnership of health care leaders dedicated to reducing health
care costs by reducing demand for services.
    Since 1999, the DaimlerChrysler/UAW National Wellness Program has realized
an annual savings of $2.8 million in health care costs among salaried
employees and $4.2 million among bargaining-unit employees.
    Also, a comparison of Health Risk Assessment (HRA) programs completed by
employees showed that employees improved eating habits by 16 percent,
decreased smoking risk by 15 percent and improved in the general health of
those with five to six health risks by about 6 percent.
    "DaimlerChrysler and the UAW are justifiably proud of our Wellness Program
and its many accomplishments over the years," said Hadrych.  "This award not
only recognizes our joint commitment to maintaining a healthy and productive
workforce, but also recognizes thousands of employees whose active
participation in the many Wellness Program offerings made it so successful."
    The DaimlerChrysler/UAW National Wellness Program was piloted at two
DaimlerChrysler sites in 1985 and expanded to 35 manufacturing and office
sites in 1990, making it accessible to more than 95,000 employees.  Through a
yearly HRA, that can be done either online or on paper, the Wellness Program
is developed uniquely to meet the health assessment needs of employees at that
location.
    "Once again health care emerges as a key issue in the presidential
election and the consumer continues to be the driving force in health care,"
said Koop.  "The Koop Awards recognize the crucial contribution made by
organizations that promote healthy behaviors and educate participants -- such
as employees or plan members -- in the effort to design programs that support
health needs while containing costs by reducing demand."
    Some of the areas the DaimlerChrysler/UAW National Wellness Program
targets are smoking cessation, weight control, eating habits, back care, self-
care, cholesterol screening, blood pressure, exercise and stress management.
The program formats include one-time workshops, multi-session classes,
individual counseling and self-directed modules.
    Other companies receiving the Koop Award this year are Caterpillar, Inc.,
Cigna Corporation and Fannie Mae.