Wellness program for county employees might save money

Winneshiek County could take steps to improve the health of county employees—steps that could wind up saving the county money.  That was the message from Decorah resident Harlan Satrom on Monday.

Satrom said other companies and organizations have stemmed the tide of rising health insurance rates by getting their employees to get blood screenings and annual physicals and to take other health living steps.  "This isn't a concept that's going awat," said Satrom.

County Auditor Ben Steines, who serves on the county's insurance committee, said paying for blood screenings or physicals might cost a few more dollars at first, but will save a lot of money in the future.  Another member of the committee, Winneshiek County Solid Waste Agency's Dave Hageman, told supervisors "This holds a lot of promise."

County supervisors asked Steines and Hageman to meet with a Cedar Falls consultant in the future to discuss steps the county could take to improve the health of its employees.