This note is in response to Carrot or Stick?

To the Editor:

The debate continues on employee incentives for health and well-being improvement.   In this piece, the author notes some thoughtful questions that need to be addressed as growth continues and expenditures rise. 

Many feel it is "easer" to pay for participation than to do the hard work of educating and informing, of communicating clearly and effectively, of building a culture of health and well-being that makes the right decisions the easy ones.

My view is that most incentives are a short-term Band-Aid on the long-term challenge of effective engagement. More needs to be done to build effective marketing approaches and strategies to motivate behavior change. It's a long but good journey

Frank Hone

Managing Director

Healthcentric Partners, Inc.

Naples, Fla.