State pays 40 percent of employees to manage chronic disease, costs $2.1 million

A state program that pays government employees $100 annually to manage chronic diseases cost $2.1 million this year because 21,344 employees qualified for the program.

That means more than 40 percent of state employees have chronic health conditions.

According to the comptroller’s office, there are about 52,800 employees in the health enhancement program.

Employees are paid if they have a qualifying condition – diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, heart failure, high cholesterol or high blood pressure – and comply with preventive care guidelines.