Hayes: Say No To Wellness Program

The LMM Leadership Group pitched Kootenai County commissioners on managing a new wellness program for county employees Friday, but not everyone was in favor of the program. County Clerk Cliff Hayes and his Chief Deputy Clerk, Pat Raffee, took exception to the program, which if implemented would penalize county employees for not participating by doubling their insurance premiums. Hayes said he is looking into the legality of the program. “I smoke, so I can’t participate in Healthy Measures (the county’s current wellness program),” he said. “I have to take a tobacco cessation course to get points, and I am not going to do that.” He said it won’t matter much to him financially if his premiums are doubled under the new proposal, but considering that roughly 300 lower paid county employees do not participate, he is concerned that they may not be able to afford it/ Jeff Selle , Coeur d’Alene Press. More here.

Question: Do you agree/disagree with County Clerk Cliff Hayes’ stand on the wellness program?