Guidelines for Health Risk Assessments (HRAs)

Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) are tools thatinformation
identify and quantify an individual's risk ofmorbidity orThe organization should disclose how the information
mortality using demographic, medical and lifestyleobtained from the Health Risk Assessment
information. "Health Risk(HRA) will be used and to whom it'll be disclosed. The
Assessments (HRAs) and Medicare", an evaluationorganization may offer the disclosure anduse
report completed by RAND for CMS, reachedinformation within the Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
thefollowing conclusions.tool or reports or through writtencommunications.
• Effective Health Risk Assessment (HRA) planAbility to save and print Health Risk Assessment
have demonstrated beneficial effects on(HRA) results
behavior,physiological variables and general healthInternet-based Health Risk Assessment (HRA) should
statusgive the member the ability to save and printhis or her
• Interventions that combine Health RiskHealth Risk Assessment (HRA) results. For
Assessment (HRA) feedback with the provision ofpaper-based Health Risk Assessments (HRAs),the
Healthorganization should have a mechanism in place for the
Plans are most likely to show beneficial effectsmember to receive a written copy of theresults.
• To be effective, Health Risk Assessment (HRA)Health Risk Assessment (HRA) Results
questionnaires should be accompanied byCompanies should offer a printed or printer-friendly
follow-upinterventions (e.g., information, support andinternet-based report for each individualparticipant. The
referrals)report may emphasis on either individual risks for
High quality Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) offer, aspecified diseases or on
computation for individual risk from thefollowing mostHealth.
common diseases and risk factors.Health Risk Assessment (HRA) computations may
• Asthmaemphasis on either individual risks based uponpersonal
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseaase (COPD)risk factors or on overall risk or health. The report
• Diabetesshould offer an explanatoryinformation to help them
• High Blood Pressureunderstand the outcome. Reports should clearly
• Ischemic heart diseaseidentify behaviors thatcan lower risk for each risk
• Major depressionfactor, and recommend targets for improvement.
• StrokeReports shouldinclude resources (e.g., community plan,
• Overweight/Obesityinternet-based information and materials) that can
• Use of Tobaccos Productshelpmembers change to a healthier lifestyle. At
• Mental healthminimum, the organization should give computation
• Immunizationsforindividual risk from the following most common
The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) collects anddiseases and risk factors.
reviews information to predict a member'slikelihood of• Asthma
experiencing the most common diseases.• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseaase (COPD)
Health Risk Assessments (HRAs): Demographic• Diabetes
characteristics• High Blood Pressure
A person's age, gender and ethnicity are indicators of• Ischemic heart disease
elevated risk for certain diseases. Atminimum, the• Major depression
Health Risk Assessment (HRA) should collect• Stroke
information, to the extent allowed bylaw, information on• Overweight/Obesity
the member's age, gender and ethnicity.• Use of Tobaccos Products
The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) should include• Mental health
queries addressing the individual's personal andfamily• Immunizations
history of diseases or risk factors for commonHealth Risk Assessment (HRA) report
diseases. The Health Risk Assessment (HRA)mustThe Health Risk Assessment (HRA) should give
include queries to assess health risks related to theinternet-based print-friendly results and theability for the
highly personal health characteristicsand behaviorsuser to print the results. The Health Risk Assessment
listed below.(HRA) report should includea profile of individual risk
• Weight Managementlevel for personal conditions or diseases according to
• Nutritionage, gender,ethnicity and risk factors that were
• Use of Tobaccos Productsidentified in the questionnaire. The report should
• High Blood Pressureclearlyidentify behaviors that can lower the risk for
• Cholesteroleach risk factor and recommend targets
• Exerciseforimprovements.
• Alcohol consumptionAvailable Resources
• Traveling by motor vehicleThe Health Risk Assessment (HRA) report should also
• Stress Managementinclude references to resources that can helpthe
• Mental healthmember understand the Health Risk Assessment
Perceived Health Status(HRA) results and assist the member in changingto a
The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) should includehealthier lifestyle.
queries that assess A person's self-perceivedhealthThe resources can include references to relevant
status. The queries should allow an individual to rateinternet-based information, materials andcommunity
their own health status on arelative scale.plan.
Disclosure of use of Health Risk Assessment (HRA)