WELLNESS PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND INTEGRATION WITH PAYROLL VENDOR SYSTEMS

• US 20080255979A1
• Filed: 05/16/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vitality Group International, Inc. (Discovery Limited)
• Original Assignee: Discovery Limited
• Inventors: Ungs, Matthew Thomas, Brophy, Christine Mary, Slutzky, Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 8,359,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A computer implemented method is disclosed for receiving employee usage information associated with at least one employee'"'"'s usage of a wellness program. A status level associated with the at least one employee for the wellness program is determined based on the employee usage information. A status level indicates a degree of participation in the wellness program. A data set is created comprising at least the status level associated with the at least one employee. The data set is in a format acceptable by a payroll vendor without conversion of the data set. The data set is then sent to an employer of the at least one employee.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for managing a wellness program comprising:

receiving employee usage information associated with at least one employee'"'"'s usage of a wellness program;

determining, based on the employee usage information, a status level associated with the at least one employee for the wellness program, wherein a status level indicates a degree of participation in the wellness program;

creating a data set comprising at least the status level associated with the at least one employee, wherein the data set is in a format acceptable by a payroll vendor without conversion of the data set; and

sending the data set to an employer of the at least one employee.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the employee usage information is received from the employer.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the employee usage information is received from at least one of a wellness program facility and a wellness program service provider.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the employee usage information includes information associated with a plurality of separate and distinct occurrences of wellness program participation by the at least one employee.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein determining a status level associated with the at least one employee for the wellness program further includes:

receiving the employee usage information from an information processing system;

assigning a given point value to each separate and distinct occurrence of wellness program participation;

determining a total point value based on an accumulation of each given point value assigned to each separate and distinct occurrence of wellness program participation

comparing the total point value to a plurality of point ranges, each point range in the plurality of point ranges being associated with a status level;

identifying a point range in the plurality of point ranges corresponding to the total point value; and

assigning a status level associated with the point range that has been identified to the at least one employee.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the employer:

transmits payroll adjustment information to the payroll vendor, wherein the payroll adjustment information indicates at least one of a monetary amount and a percentage amount to adjust a payroll amount associated with at least the one employee based on the status level associated with the one employee.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6, wherein the payroll vendor:

receives the data set from the employer;

identifies the status level associated with at least the one employee;

determines a payroll adjustment amount associated with the status level based on the payroll adjustment information; and

adjusts the payroll amount associated with at least the one employee based on the payroll adjustment amount that has been determined.

8. An information processing system for managing a wellness program comprising:

a memory;

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory; and

a wellness program manager communicatively coupled to the memory and the processor, wherein the wellness program manager is adapted to;

receive employee usage information associated with at least one employee'"'"'s usage of a wellness program, wherein the employee usage information includes information associated with a plurality of separate and distinct occurrences of wellness program participation by the at least one employee;

determine, based on the employee usage information, a status level associated with the at least one employee for the wellness program, wherein a status level indicates a degree of participation in the wellness program;

create a data set comprising at least the status level associated with the at least one employee, wherein the data set is in a format acceptable by a payroll vendor without conversion of the data set; and

send the data set to an employer of the at least one employee.

9. The information processing system of claim 8, wherein the employee usage information is received from the employer.

10. The information processing system of claim 8, wherein the employee usage information is received from at least one of a wellness program facility and a wellness program service provider.

11. The information processing system of claim 8, wherein the wellness program manager is further adapted to determine a status level associated with the at least one employee for the wellness program by:

receiving the employee usage information from an information processing system;

assigning a given point value to each separate and distinct occurrence of wellness program participation;

determining a total point value based on an accumulation of each given point value assigned to each separate and distinct occurrence of wellness program participation

comparing the total point value to a plurality of point ranges, each point range in the plurality of point ranges being associated with a status level;

identifying a point range in the plurality of point ranges corresponding to the total point value; and

assigning a status level associated with the point range that has been identified to the at least one employee.

12. The information processing system of claim 8, wherein the employer:

transmits payroll adjustment information to the payroll vendor, wherein the payroll adjustment information indicates at least one of a monetary amount and a percentage amount to adjust a payroll amount associated with at least the one employee based on the status level associated with the one employee.

13. The information processing system of claim 12, wherein the payroll vendor:

receives the data set from the employer;

identifies the status level associated with at least the one employee;

determines a payroll adjustment amount associated with the status level based on the payroll adjustment information; and

adjusts the payroll amount associated with at least the one employee based on the payroll adjustment amount that has been determined.

14. A computer implemented method for managing a wellness program comprising:

receiving employee usage information associated with at least one employee'"'"'s usage of a wellness program;

receiving a payroll data set associated with the at least one employee;

determining, based on the employee usage information, a status level associated with the at least one employee for the wellness program, wherein a status level indicates a degree of participation in the wellness program;

determining, based on the status level associated with the at least one employee, a payroll adjustment amount;

updating the payroll data set with at least the status level and payroll adjustment amount; and

sending the payroll data set to an employer of the at least one employee.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein the payroll data set includes at least a health insurance contribution amount associated with the at least one employee.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining, based on the status level associated with the at least one employee, a new health insurance contribution amount associated with the at least one employee; and

updating the payroll data set with at least the status level and the new health insurance contribution amount.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein the employee usage information includes information associated with a plurality of separate and distinct occurrences of wellness program participation by the at least one employee.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 17, wherein determining a status level associated with the at least one employee for the wellness program further includes:

receiving the employee usage information from an information processing system;

assigning a given point value to each separate and distinct occurrence of wellness program participation;

determining a total point value based on an accumulation of each given point value assigned to each separate and distinct occurrence of wellness program participation;

comparing the total point value to a plurality of point ranges, each point range in the plurality of point ranges being associated with a status level;

identifying a point range in the plurality of point ranges corresponding to the total point value; and

assigning a status level associated with the point range that has been identified to the at least one employee.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein the employee usage information is received from at lest one of:

the employer;

a wellness program facility; and

a wellness program service provider.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein the payroll adjustment information indicates at least one of a monetary amount and a percentage amount to adjust a payroll amount associated with at least the one employee based on the status level associated with the one employee.