Kentucky is first state to launch Virgin HealthMiles program to employees

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Steve Beshear and Personnel Cabinet Sec. Nikki Jackson today announced that Kentucky is the first state in the nation to offer the Virgin HealthMiles program to its employees and other members of the Kentucky Employees Health Plan (KEHP) as part of the administration’s Journey to Wellness program.



“Today we are launching a wellness program that encourages employees to take an active role in their own health by competing to lower Kentucky’s high national adult obesity and chronic disease rates,” said Gov. Beshear. “A healthy workforce is not only a matter of quality of life for our teachers, state employees, and retirees; it is critical to government productivity.”



Christopher Boyce, CEO of Virgin HealthMiles, attended today’s kick-off to show support for the commonwealth’s implementation of the award-winning Virgin HealthMiles program. The announcement was held during the first of 18 benefit fairs conducted during health insurance open enrollment and featured a Virgin HealthMiles walk around the Frankfort Convention Center grounds, aimed to highlight the importance of preventive health care and the launch of new wellness initiatives for state employees.



“We are proud to partner with the commonwealth of Kentucky as they are the first state government in the nation to provide the HealthMiles program to all employees and plan members,” said Boyce.” It is truly an honor for Virgin HealthMiles and the Virgin Group to be working with innovative leaders, such as the good people of Kentucky, who have recognized how wellness programs can benefit their employees and, in turn, the citizens of the commonwealth.”
Beginning in 2009, KEHP members will be able to sign up to participate in the Virgin HealthMiles program. Employee participants will be provided a GoZone, a pedometer that will allow them to track their daily steps and other physical activity upload their data to their own personal LifeZone tracking program. To encourage employee participation, the program provides a variety of challenges and monthly sweepstakes for cash prizes, as well as opportunities to redeem cash they’ve earned and won on their personal LifeZone Web site. A participant's chance of winning the monthly sweepstakes is enhanced the more actively they participate in the program.





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