The Iowa Hospital Association and Iowa Business Council have partnered to produce a new report designed to help businesses, health care providers and employees work better together to improve health and control health care costs.

Using case studies from 19 large Iowa employers, “Partners for Health: How Iowa Businesses, Health Care Providers and Employees are Collaborating to Create Value” offers specific real-world examples of successful programs Iowa businesses have implemented to engage employees in their health and improve individual and organizational wellness. Sectors represented in the report include manufacturing, retail, health care, education and energy.

Among the case studies, Casey’s General Stores Inc. said its senior leadership takes an active role in the company’s wellness initiatives by participating in events whenever possible. In addition, Casey’s encourages employees to be tobacco-free by providing tobacco-cessation prescription drugs while also offering reduced health premiums to employees who don’t use tobacco. The company also uses every mode of communication to emphasize the importance of preventive health and provides incentives to employees who complete their preventive exams.

“Iowa businesses are deeply invested in the health of their employees,” said Michael Wells, chair of the IBC board and president and CEO of Wells Enterprises Inc. in Le Mars. “But we realize we must do more than provide health care coverage. We must engage employees in their health, incent and support good habits and work with health care providers. These case studies show collaboration is crucial.”