The effectiveness of health promotion at the University of Minnesota: Expenditures, absenteeism, and participation in specific programs

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of the University of Minnesota's worksite health promotion program in reducing health care expenditures during the first 2 years of the program; to investigate the program's effect on absenteeism; and to study the effect of specific disease- or lifestyle-management programs on both health care expenditures and absenteeism. Methods: Health care expenditures and absenteeism of program participants were compared with those who were eligible but did not participate. Differences-in-differences regression equations with random effects were used to account for selection. Results: Participation in the general disease management program over 2 years was associated with significant reductions in expenditures, as was participation in programs for certain specific diseases. No consistently significant absenteeism or lifestyle management effects were found. Conclusions: Although the program significantly reduced expenditures, it did not generate a positive return on investment.