As an insurance company, it's important for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield to be leaders in encouraging healthy lifestyles for its clients. Now the foodservice at its Pittsburgh, Pa. headquarters has turned its attention to Highmark's own employees. Lenny DeMartino, general manager for Parkhurst at Highmark, has made a big push with healthy options to try and lower Highmark's healthcare costs for its own employees.
Parkhurst Dining Services has made a big push to encourage customers to make healthier choices. Lenny DeMartino, general manager at 4,500-employee Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in Pittsburgh, Pa., has taken that to the next level by encouraging healthy options to the point that it has been able to reduce healthcare costs for Highmark.
“Highmark’s overall mission as a company is ‘to help individuals live longer, healthier lives,’ with the hope it will decrease health risks like elevated body weight, high blood pressure, etc. In 2008, Highmark published a study that showed ‘best practice’ evidence for the impact of Highmark’s wellness program on healthcare costs. The study included 12,000 employees who participated in worksite efforts to become healthier such as worksite wellness programs and healthier food options. A solid return on investment of $1.65 per every dollar spent was shown. The biggest challenge was having our guests ‘buy-in’ to this culture change. If you present the healthier options as giving the guests more choices, they will buy-in because everyone likes variety. Also, it is important to offer foods that excite guests with great flavors. It starts with the basics of providing great tasting food, with great flavor profiles that use natural and healthy ingredients.”