URAC Wellness Standard 2 -- Program Enrollment Materials

This standard requires that the wellness organization provide enumerated communication materials about the program to its target population.  Specifically, those materials should describe the workings of the program, its benefits and potential outcomes, what kind of interventions are used.  These materials should be accessible to the entire target population, using information about that population's cultural diversity and need for multiple formats for communications materials.

This standard will be paired up with Core standards dealing with communications activities (Core 21 in particular). While the Core standards will require the implementation of mechanisms to ensure accuracy of the information provided to consumers, this standard delineates the level of detail in those communications (e.g., how the program works, benefits, potential outcomes, and associated interventions).  

Additionally, this standard requires the wellness organization to provide target population with materials accessible in multiple formats, such as electronic, paper, or mass-communication techniques.  In addition, the organization will be required to take into account the cultural issues that may affect how that communication is to be made effective for the target population.

It is worth noting at this point that "target population", new to the URAC vocabulary, is different than the commonly used "consumer."  URAC defines it as follows:

The group of individuals, as defined by the purchaser, who are eligible to become participants in the wellness program. The target population may be defined broadly (e.g., all employees regardless of health status) or narrowly (e.g., all employees who smoke).