George Mason University
PA-11: Wellness Program

George Mason University (Mason) has a range of employee wellness services including counseling, referral, and well-being services. Mason's health benefits (a choice of a PPO, HMO, and HDHP) includes an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides staff and faculty up to 4 free visits per instance on a range of issues including:
--marital and family problems
--child or adult care issues
--alcohol and/or drug abuse
--balancing work and family
--depression and anxiety
--work-related concerns
--financial or legal problems
--career transition issues
--personal growth and development
The EAP also has an extensive library of resources available on nearly 200 different personal and professional topics – everything from “acute stress disorder” to “working with others”. Non-benefits eligible employees can call Mason's Employee Relations office for referral to services within the community.
The health insurance plans also cover wellness doctor visits at 100% including, but not limited to, a routine annual check up, routine immunizations, two routine dental check ups, pap test, mammography, prostate exam, and colonoscopy (as appropriate based on age).
Participants in the PPO and HDHP also have access to no cost health coaching in the areas of pre-natal care, chronic conditions, smoking cessation, stress management, weight management, and more. The pregnancy and diabetes programs offer incentives to participants.
Additionally, as a public university in Virginia, Mason’s employees have access to CommonHealth, the wellness benefit for state employees. CommonHealth includes:
--WeightWatchers (50% reimbursement for eligible employees)
--Area fitness center discounts
--Tri-annual programming that can be brought into individual departments upon request on topics such as “Home Safe Home”, “Take a Break” (stress reduction), “Outdoor Adventures” and “Every Calorie Counts.”
Beginning in 2008, Mason created an interdepartmental effort to highlight wellness at the university. Currently over 20 departments participate in “Wellness by Mason” encouraging the Mason community to address three pillars of wellness: exercise, general wellness and preventive screenings. Partners within Wellness by Mason offer a range of services and events including:
--Free (through our health insurance plans) or very low cost ($20 from Student Health Services) flu shots on campus
--Resolution Solution (a friendly exercise competition)
--Happy Heart Walk
--Victim’s Annual 5K Run/Walk
--Mason Walk In’ (an indoor walking program)
--Walking Wednesdays --Life Planning Seminars
Students have access to the Wellness, Alcohol, and Violence Education and Services (WAVES). WAVES helps students develop and maintain healthy lifestyles through one on one support, and interactive programs and resources. Some of the topics addressed include healthy relationships, stress management, nutrition, sexual assault, drug and alcohol use and sexual health. WAVES also provides confidential STD screening for students.

Data is for FY14
Additional websites:
WAVES: http://waves.gmu.edu/
http://hr.gmu.edu/benefits/health/value.php
Wellness by Mason: http://wellnessbymason.gmu.edu
CommonHealth: http://commonhealth.virginia.gov/