CVS Ordering Workers To Reveal Weight, Health Info

cbs ^ | 3/21 | cbs

[RummyChick]

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — Pharmacy giant CVS has told workers in the Bay Area and around the nation to reveal their weight and other health information, or pay extra for health coverage.

The company announced Wednesday what it called “A Plan for Health,” that features a mix of rewards and penalties for employees.

Among the measures, employees must report their weight, body fat, cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Workers must also be tobacco free or enroll in an addiction program by next year.

[Mercat]

I guess I’m thinking that its not a constitutional right to have a job or to have health insurance and that CVS as a private corp, can regulate both.

[US Navy Vet]

That’s OK I’ll just use Wal-Mart Pharmacy when I need Drugs Filled.

[RummyChick]

“(CVS Executives) better get some pretty good legal counsel and decide whether your policy is really legal, because the policy as announced is not legal,” said Richard Schramm, a Bay Area employment lawyer.”

[HomeAtLast]

If such is legal today it will be mandatory tomorrow.
And we will accept it, we always do.

[WinMod70]

For some reason I’m thinking being fat is cover by the disabilities act, or maybe I’m just basing that on what I see spilling out of cars in handicap spaces.

I have to wonder if BMI could be used as a job qualification during the hiring process. Would make for some interesting help wanted ads. Fugly need not apply, no cankles, must run the 40 in under 6 seconds, etc.

[nascarnation]

If we actually used the Constitution anymore, your comment would be absolutely correct.

However....

[nascarnation]

I wonder if this guy would say the NFL scouting combine is illegal?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Last year our insurance offered incentives for having a screening, working out, etc but didn’t charge extra. Fox was just discussing this - suggesting the $63 per month obamacare charge is maybe fueling this extra $50 per month for those who don’t participate.

[Jack of all Trades]

I can't see how this would be illegal. Insurance is the business of redistributing risk. Measurable increases in risk go hand in hand with increased premiums. That's the foundation of the business. What do you expect will happen to your auto insurance if you frequently speed or have accidents? Right, it's going to go up.

Does anybody read the HIPAA release that they sign at every doctor's visit, and the associated law? If you're covered by your employer by a group policy that they buy, then your employer doesn't see your medical details. If your employer self insures though, your info is an open book to your boss. Thanks Hillary.

Medical insurance in this country isn't really insurance anyway. It's more like a service contract. If you abuse equipment covered by a contract, do you think it would be covered? I doubt it.

My personal take - if people want to lay on the couch and eat cracklin, guzzle bud and puff Marlboros, knock yourselves out, enjoy. Just don't expect others to pick up the tab for your eventual bypass/cancer treatment, and early death.

[Graybeard58]

Is C.V.S. asking any questions about whether any of their employees are sodomites? The very unhealthiest activities anyone could engage in.

[NRA1995]

One of the most obese women I know is the pharmacist at my local CVS. I’ve wondered for a long time how obese people get jobs within the health industry.

[OldNavyVet]

I’m thinking that its not a constitutional right to have a job or to have health insurance

Americans used to have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[nascarnation]

I’ve wondered for a long time how obese people get jobs within the health industry.

Most likely because they are competent at what they do. Only the drug reps have to be hot.

[Jack of all Trades]

I doubt it. Anyone who reads the article (gasp) will see that the information goes through WebMD to the insurer and not to CVS.

[beef]

“Just don't expect others to pick up the tab for your eventual bypass/cancer treatment, and early death.”

Absolutely. Look at Ronald Reagan. He was a model of physical fitness and that helped him lived for 10 years with Alzheimer's. Yea, that was really cost effective.

[CSM]

“I guess I’m thinking that its not a constitutional right to have a job or to have health insurance and that CVS as a private corp, can regulate both.”

I’d agree if I didn’t have the knowledge that these requirements are actually part of the Obamacare requirements. This is a federal directive, but we get to have employers enforce it and that will lead many to not connecting the dots.

[massgopguy]

Is this the same CVS that sells Tobacco Products?

[CSM]

Yep and beer and wine and candy and chips and on and on.

[PowderMonkey]

No problem. Soon all like former Soviet Union:
• Fearless leader sez weigh all. Put on paper height, body fat, pressure of blood.
• All paper collect by Secretary General of Committee for Punishment of Counterrevolutionary Fatties.
• Reports to Fearless Leader first of month, or send to Gulag for punish Secretary General.
• Fatties pay apparatchiks for to make skinny on papers.
• Apparatchiks miss deadline. Sleep while working. Do much nothing.
• False reports of apparatchiks to Secretary General first of month for Fearless Leader to satisfy.
• All fit Collectivists now.
• Vodka allotment and Hero of Revolution medal for all.
• Forward to glorious future.