Summary: The dismal economy of 2009 has been a bright spot for health coaching and other health improvement programs, notes Dr. Jim Reynolds, chief medical officer for Health Fitness Corporation. Dr. Reynolds also compares early results from a Massachusetts' smoking cessation program for Medicaid beneficiaries with outcomes in commercial populations, and describes what Year 1 of a coaching program for improved medication adherence might yield in the way of behavior change and cost impacts. Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Elizabeth Rula, clinical research manager at the Center for Health Research at Healthways Inc., shared how their organizations respond to the challenges of evaluating and reporting on health coaching ROI during the January 13, 2010 webinar, "Health Coaching Evaluation: Measuring the ROI on Healthcare Utilization and Costs."
