Part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) involves preventive care and wellness. Prior to the PPACA, company wellness programs such as smoking cessation or weight loss programs have been limited by restrictions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and HIPPA. As guidance to the PPACA, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued concerning how employers can structure and operate their wellness programs. The programs can include incentive payments and premium discounts. Along with the proposed regulations, the DOL released a research paper, “,” which provides more information about wellness programs.
