Last updated on: 10/24/2012 | Author: ProCon.org

Does Obamacare Provide Any Funding for Workplace Health Programs? – YES

General Reference (not clearly pro or con)

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Section 10408, “Grants for Small Businesses to Provide Comprehensive Workplace Wellness Programs,” page 859, signed into law on Mar. 23, 2010, available at the Library of Congress website:

“(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall award grants to eligible employers to provide their employees with access to comprehensive workplace wellness programs (as described under subsection (c))…

(c) COMPREHENSIVE WORKPLACE WELLNESS PROGRAMS.—

(1) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall develop program criteria for comprehensive workplace wellness programs under this section that are based on and consistent with evidence-based research and best practices, including research and practices as provided in the Guide to Community Preventive Services, the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, and the National Registry for Effective Programs…

(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.—For purposes of carrying out the grant program under this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2011 through 2015. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this subsection shall remain available until expended.”

Mar. 23, 2010 - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3590)

PRO (yes)

Pro

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated in their Jan. 13, 2012 article “Comprehensive Workplace Health Programs to Address Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Tobacco Use in the Workplace,” available at www.cdc.gov:

“The Affordable Care Act’s Prevention and Public Health Fund is supporting a $9 million national initiative to establish and evaluate comprehensive workplace health programs to improve the health of workers and their families…

Based on employee needs, companies will establish a core set of three to five interventions from an available menu of options that include a mix of program (education and coaching), policy, and environmental supports and that target physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco use in the employee population.”

CON (no)

Con

[Editor’s Note: Based upon a neutral reading of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and bi-partisan third party analysis, this question seems to have a clear and obvious Pro (yes) answer, and ProCon.org has therefore presented the responses in a single column with no opposing perspective.]