1.  To incent greater engagement by all members ... not just to reach 100 days of 5,000 fast walk steps (which is only two days per week), but 150, 200 and 250 days.  When a person reaches 250 days, which is five days a week, he/she has achieved the national definition of good exercise:  More than 30 minutes at least five days a week of a fast walk/moderate exercise.  The Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health shows that is how much we NEED to move to reduce our risk of diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

      That amount of exercise will also increase one's aerobic capability (intake of energy-providing oxygen), which increases one's productivity and thinking capability (more oxygen to the body and to the brain)!

      2.  To lure the 20% of members who are spending 100% of our insurance premiums to be as careful/prudent as possible with the dollars they do spend.  We can't know who the 20% are, so our initiatives have to be to help ALL members be even more careful ... and publicize their initiatives so all can learn from them.  They will include:  Use of Coaches to improve behaviors, better use of generic drugs and Humana's and BidRx's purchasing leverage, researching provider costs provided by Humana on the Co-op website, getting second opinions and use of Humana's Disease Management professionals, use of Fast Care for minor problems, and the like.

      3.  To focus on Obesity ... publicizing the reductions in costly risk factors and the improvements in family expenses, personal lifestyles and self-esteem, that result from reducing Obesity.  We know that even small improvements in Obesity levels result in lowering of medical system usage and costs, and improvements in the aforementioned.

      Join with us!  Congress and the Obama Administration did not pass a health care reform bill that helps us lower our costs.  We have to do it ourselves.  Taking this personal responsibility is what our part is all about.

     We have to do it.  We will do it better together.

Phil Hauck, HLC Board President:  For your Board and Staff ... John Bloor, Gary Baranowski, Lee Bouche, Patrick Georgia, David Jolly, Nan Nelson, Jon Syndergaard, Randy Connour and Kay Van Boxel.