KYN Frequently Asked Questions
Confidentiality & Privacy Statement
UMR Registration directions
My UMR
HISTORY AND BENEFITS of participating the Online Health Risk Assessment and Biometric Screen
1. What is "Know Your Numbers GVSU"?
2. Do I have to pay for the screening?
3. Is there an incentive to take the health screenings?
4. Why do we want to know our numbers?
5. Who is Wellness Inc?
6. Are the health screenings mandatory?
7. What does the screening test?
8. How long does the health evaluation take and what is involved?
9. Who is performing the health evaluations?
10. Who can participate in the health screenings?
11. How comprehensive is the health evaluation?
12. I am a healthy individual, why would I take the time for an evaluation?
13. I see my physician on a regular basis, thus why should I have a health evaluation?
14. How do I access my previous results from Interactive Health Solutions if I participated in KYN in 2008, 2010 or 2011?
15. What if I miss the online HRA deadline of March 23?
KNOW YOUR NUMBERS EVENT INFORMATION
1. How do I sign up?
2. When will the health screenings be held?
3. Where do the health screenings take place?
4. How early can I come?
5. Do I have to fast?
6. How long will this test take?
7. I forgot to make an appointment. Can I still come?
8. My physician draws blood on a regular basis for a medical condition. Can I use my screening results as a replacement for one of those blood draws?
9. What if I feel faint before, during or after the blood draw?
10. Can retirees under 65 and on the Grand Valley State University health plan participate?
11. What happens if urgent risks are identified in my results?
PRIVACY
1. Will Grand Valley State University receive the results of my screening?
2. Who will see my results?
3. Can I send my results to my physician?
4. Can UMR do anything to raise/lower premiums based on my current or future results?
5. How do I know participating in this (these) program/s is confidential?
6. Will the university receive any of my information?
7. What about the prize drawings - how will those be determined?
8. Is this program compliant with the new GINA regulations?
History and Benefits of participating in "Know Your Numbers GVSU"
1. What is "Know Your Numbers "?
The Know Your Numbers Program involves a Clinical Health Risk Assessment (CHRA) a combination of biometric screening and an online Health Risk Assessment. The CHRA will be provided each year for all benefit eligible faculty and staff members. The assessment provides a single, quantitative measure that represents a picture of a persons overall health status. It is calculated using key health factors including Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure, LDL Cholesterol, Glucose, Triglycerides and Smoking. Additional tests include Blood Chemistry Profile, Complete Blood Count, Prostate Screening and Thyroid Screening.
2. Do I have to pay for the screening?
Participation is FREE for all benefit eligible employees, spouses and household members (approved under the GVSU Household Member Program).
3. Is there an incentive to take the health screenings?
Yes. In addition to the benefit of understand health risks and being able to share those with ones own health care provider, all benefit eligible participants will be eligible for incentives. Incentives are based on participation in the CHRA's not one's health results.
4. Why do we want to know our numbers?
A clinical Health Risk Assessment, which is an integral component to a comprehensive wellness program has economic benefits for both Grand Valley and it's faculty and staff. Identifying health risks at an early stage allows GVSU faculty and staff members to go to their health care providers and do the necessary follow up to eliminate or minimize health problems. The faculty or staff member wins because they find out their health status, and identify any health risks at no costs to themselves. All results are confidential and are for the faculty and staff member only. It is up to you to follow up with your physician if you have any identified risks. Often time faculty and staff think they are healthy, only to find out they do in fact have some health problems.
5. Who is Wellness Inc?
UMR, the third party administrator for the Grand Valley State University health plans, has partnered Wellness Inc to provide on-site health screenings for its clients. Wellness Inc, a leading national provider of health management services Health Promotion Program and will be replacing Interactive Health Solutions for on site services.
I participated in the CHRA's with Interactive Health Solutions, how can I access my results?
UMR has partnered with Wellness Inc. to administer all biometric screens and is no longer a partner with IHS. Health information of those who participated in the CHRA's offered by Interactive Health Solutions from 2009-2011 is still accessible by visiting interactivehs.com. Health information from IHSwill not transfer to the Wellness Inc system. The UMR and Wellness Inc. partnership will be an enhancement for GVSU faculty and staff by providing quality on site assessments and access to results online. Faculty and staff health information will remain confidential in UMR's system. Please refer to our privacy policy at the bottom of this page regarding how the program is compliant with HIPAA rules and regulations.
6. Are the health screenings mandatory?
The health screenings are not mandatory. However, annual health screenings are highly recommended, since they can often identify health risks that can be addressed before they become major problems.
7. What does the screening test?
Your health screening will include a blood draw used for 34 diagnostic tests to assess a wide range of health areas including:
- Cardiovascular disease risks (high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes)
- Liver and kidney disease
- Anemia
- Blood, bone and muscle disease (including certain types of cancer)
- Prostate cancer (males 50 and over)
8. How long does the health evaluation take and what is involved?
The evaluation takes 10 minutes and is done at GVSU or an offsite Labcorp facility. Wellness Inc. will assist you in scheduling an appointment. The evaluation consists of a brief medical history, blood pressure and a fasting blood draw.
9. Who is performing the health evaluations?
Health care professionals complete the evaluations. All on-site health care professionals have at least 5 years experience, and are evaluated and rewarded based on client satisfaction feedback. Thus you can be assured that the evaluation will be completed in a timely and professional manner.
10. Who can participate in the health screenings?
All benefit eligible faculty, staff, spouses and household members (approved under the GVSU Household Member Program) can participate in the health screenings. Spouses do not qualify for incentives.
11. How comprehensive is the health evaluation?
The health evaluation is extremely comprehensive. 34 different tests are run examining every major organ in your body and will help to identify a wide range of health risks including cardiovascular disease risk factors (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes), liver and kidney disease, anemia, and certain types of cancer. In addition a PSA looking for prostate cancer in men 40 and older and a thyroid test in women 40 and older will be completed. The health evaluation will also analyze a number of risk factors related to cardiac risk and provide each employee with an individual cardiac risk analysis, that examines your risk for coronary heart disease, compared to someone your same sex and age. Another combination of tests will be examined to determine individuals with metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetic). This has huge implications for identified individuals as well as employers. Stopping someone from becoming diabetic saves money and also provides the at risk employee the ability to address a condition that if left untreated could result in a altered quality of life, decreased longevity, increased medical complications, and a lifetime of costly treatments.
12. I am a healthy individual, why would I take the time for an evaluation?
Often times plan participants believe they are risk free, only to find out differently. From the appointment, each participant receives a detailed and comprehensive health report which they can share with their own health care provider. The health report establishes an overall health score for each individual to refer to and help track progress and set health goals. As faculty and staff participate each year they will be able to compare each score side by side to measure maintenance or improvement.
13. I see my physician on a regular basis, thus why should I have a health evaluation?
Over 34 different tests are run through the CHRA. You can email your results to your physician for your permanent record or take your printed results with you to your next routine appointment. Additionally, after completing the health evaluation with Wellness INC, you will have available to you a wide variety of educational tools and information, along with access to health coaching. This assessment is provided to supplement, not replace, the relationship with your health care provider.
You can still participate and receive incentives through the ANNUAL PHYSICAL OPTION
14. How do I access my previous results from Interactive Health Solutions if I participated in KYN in 2008, 2010 or 2011?
This year GVSU is working with a new vendor, Wellness Inc through UMR Results from the previous years were held with Interactive Health Solutions, our vendor for the first three years.Because GVSU is no longer are with Interactive Health Solutions participants do not have access to the IHS website like before so are unable to get to the previous results online. Please refer to the hard copy reports provided to you by Interactive Health Solutions from previous screenings.
15. What if I miss the online HRA deadline of March 23?
If you missed the deadline for the online HRA GVSU is considering offering another opportunity to complete the online HRA in the fall of 2012. Stay tuned for more information on another date.
"Know Your Numbers GVSU" Event Information
Registration is available online or via phone through WELLNESS INC.
2. When will the health screenings be held?
On site screening will take place the week of March 12, 2012. An off site Labcorp facility is available if you are unable to make it to an onsite assessment.
3. Where do the health screenings take place?
Screening check-in will take place on the DeVos, Allendale and CHS campuses.
If you are unable to make an on site appointment or work on the Holland and Muskegon or Traverse City regional centers, there are off site locations available. Simply ask when making your appointment.
4. How early can I come?
The appointment from start to finish should take 10 minutes. You can arrive at your scheduled time.
5. Do I have to fast?
For accurate readings for the lipid panel the recommended fast time is 12 hours. Do not eat. However, you may drink water or black coffee (no cream or sweeteners of any kind). If you know you are diabetic or hypoglycemic, please follow your doctor's instructions regarding fasting. If you do not fast or forgot, don't worry! You can still complete the assessment, however some of the readings may not be as accurate.
6. How long will this test take?
The assessment should take 10 minutes.
7. I forgot to make an appointment. Can I still come?
Yes. Walk in appointments are an option. However, we encourage employees to make an appointment to avoid a possible wait time. You will need to provide your insurance card for eligibility and security reasons. If you missed the deadline for the online HRA GVSU is considering offering another opportunity to complete the online HRA in the fall of 2012. Stay tuned for more information on another date.
You can still participate and receive incentives through the ANNUAL PHYSICAL OPTION
8. My physician draws blood on a regular basis for a medical condition. Can I use my screening results as a replacement for one of those blood draws?
Yes. Many employees save money by providing the results to their physicians.
9. What if I feel faint before, during or after the blood draw?
If you have experienced faintness from blood draws in the past, please tell the nurse you would like to lie down for the blood draw. There will an exam table available in a separate area.
10. Can retirees under 65 and on the Grand Valley State University health plan participate?
Yes. However, they are not be eligible for the incentive.
11. What happens if urgent risks are identified in my results?
You will be called immediately by Interactive Health Solutions staff members if there is a serious issue found in your results.
1. Will Grand Valley State University receive the results of my screening?
No. Your health information will be handled according to national privacy laws (HIPAA) and will not be shared with Grand Valley State University. The University will receive de-individualized, aggregate data compiled by Wellness Inc. on the population from the screenings.
2. Who will see my results?
Your results are processed and sent directly to you. Who sees your results from here is totally up to you. All patient privacy laws are followed and your individual results will not be shared with your employer or other unauthorized parties. At the time you test, you will receive a written overview of UMR’s compliance with privacy laws.
3. Can I send my results to my physician?
Absolutely. You are encouraged to send your physician the results and ask that they be added to your medical file. All participants of the “Know Your Numbers GVSU!” program will have the ability to fax their results to their doctor online.
4. Can my insurance do anything to raise/lower premiums based on our current or future results?
No.
5. How do I know participating in this (these) program/s is confidential?
The university and all vendors involved must comply with HIPAA law. To release personal records without the individual’s consent is illegal. Please see the privacy statement at the bottom of this page.
7. Will the university receive any of my information?
NO. It is against HIPAA policy for the university to receive any of your personal information. The university will receive de-identified aggregate information of the participants in the program for vendor evaluation and program planning purposes only.
8. Is this program compliant with the new GINA regulations?
Yes. The Clinical Health Risk Assessment provided by Wellness Inc and UMR is 100% compliant to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).
Privacy Statement
Information collected and received through the Health & Wellness Program (Program) complies with HIPAA law and regulation. Any information collected and received will be retained by UMR and Program specific contracted vendors only. It is the policy of this Program that no personal information the employee provides to it, including, but not limited to, your name, address, telephone number, unique medical ID, Social Security Number, e-mail address or confidential medical information will be forwarded to the employer or disclosed to any unauthorized entity or individual. No entity other than UMR and Program specific contracted vendors will collect information in regards to the Program. If the Program requires transmitting or receiving personal information over the Internet to or from contracted vendors, it will employ security measures, including, but not limited to, encryption, to ensure the privacy of the data.
Page last modified May 11, 2012
