The Nation’s First Statewide Plan for Sustainable Improvement in Longevity and Well-Being
DES MOINES, Iowa and NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Aug. 10, 2011 - Today, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad endorsed a plan to make Iowa the healthiest state within five years. The Healthiest State Initiative will support Iowans to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. It is anticipated the initiative will allow the state to redirect billions of dollars over the next several years to grow the state’s economy. This is the nation’s first comprehensive statewide well-being improvement program. It brings together individuals, communities and businesses to create permanent changes to policies, environments, and social networks so that the healthy choice becomes the easy choice.
Wellmark® Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® and Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY) will support this initiative through the Blue Zones Project™. This unique approach uses a community-by-community and business-by-business movement to improve the emotional, physical, and social health of Iowans based on learnings from Blue Zones® and Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index® (WBI) research. The expected result is lower health care cost trends, higher productivity, and improved economic and social vitality.
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