What is the difference between a health risk assessment and a health risk appraisal? Both are abbreviated to HRA, and both are common terms used in health and wellness.
Health risk assessment and health risk appraisal are interchangeable names for the same thing – a way to collect lifestyle factors and health risks on an individual. This information can then be used by population health professionals to target wellness programs that reduce risk of chronic disease and improve health outcomes over time.
How do specific markets use this tool in their programs? We look to three markets to learn how they use a wellness HRA.
Commercial health plans
About 56 percent of people covered by health insurance in the United States enroll in a plan through their employer, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
And it’s no secret that it’s in the best interest of both the health plan and the employer to control healthcare costs.
But how do you do that? Moda Health uses a health risk assessment. It’s one tool Moda Health offers as part of its Momentum program to serve its commercial line of business.
It’s designed to help members navigate the healthcare system, assess health risks, and learn to make behavior changes to improve health.
“Through Momentum, members can take a health assessment, see their ‘health age,’ research health topics, track symptoms, and medications, and create a family health record,” says Moda Health Vice President of Communications Jonathan Nicholas. “Bringing Momentum to our members is just one more way we help them find a way to better health.”
Individual health plans
Some states that provide individual health plans for Medicaid and Medicare encourage members to complete a health risk assessment to identify health risks, discuss the results with their doctor, and create an action plan to improve.
For example, the Healthy Michigan Plan developed by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services uses a health risk assessment this way:
“Beneficiaries work in collaboration with their healthcare provider to complete a standardized health risk assessment and identify behavior goals,” according to the program guidelines. “Beneficiaries are expected to remain actively engaged in their health by establishing at least one healthy behaviors goal each year…”
The Annual Wellness Visit required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services includes a health risk assessment.
Wellness companies
What if you’re a wellness company or consultant that connects employer groups, commercial and individual health plans, and other health professionals with wellness tools, programming, and services?
That’s where the definition of HRA appears to be referred to more often as both a health risk assessment and a health risk appraisal, says former Bravo Wellness Product Manager Andy Carr.
“There may be more of a noted difference in the more research and academic focused population,” says Carr. “But I think your typical corporate buyer sees those as interchangeable.”
Even when responding to RFPs for wellness programming and services, Carr says Bravo Wellness uses the terms “health risk assessment” and “health risk appraisal” similarly.
Health risk assessment vs. health risk appraisal?
Our sales and legal departments thought of “health risk appraisal” as a more old-fashioned term, more commonly used in older populations. But Dr. Brittany U. Carter, Wellsource Director of Health & Research, confirms that "the terms health risk assessment and health risk appraisal can be used interchangeably as they are collecting and measuring the same things—lifestyle factors and health risks.” To sum it up, health risk assessments and health risk appraisals are essentially the same thing.
What about you? Does your organization use the term health risk assessment or health risk appraisal? Vote in our poll and leave us a comment below. Whatever you call it, an HRA is an important tool for wellness professionals, health plans, and wellness companies alike. Need help identifying which HRA is the best solution for your organization? Download our checklist below to learn more.
