2799-O - New York wellness works; program established.
§ 2799-o. New York wellness works; program established. 1. The New York wellness works program is hereby established as a partnership between the state and employers to encourage health screening, education and incentives tailored to employees' specific needs to help promote health and prevent disease. 2. Upon the commissioner's approval, and within the amount appropriated, the department shall make available grants for the purpose of enabling employers to develop and implement health promotion and disease prevention initiatives. Such initiatives may include, but shall not be limited to: (a) the compilation of individual or aggregate employee health profiles, on an individual voluntary basis, with recommendations and incentives for health promotion activities based on individual or aggregate health information; or (b) specific screening, education and health incentives; or (c) such other employer-based health promotion and disease prevention measures, including changes to the work environment and policy changes in the worksite, as the commissioner may approve in accordance with this article. 3. The department may contract with an organization or organizations for the administration of the program, in accordance with the criteria for participation in said program as set forth in section two thousand seven hundred ninety-nine-q of this article. 4. In addition to any amounts as may be appropriated for grants, the commissioner is authorized to seek and receive funds from philanthropic foundations and other sources to further support such purposes.