The recent health reform legislation has not provided any short term cost relievers for employers, according to a BusinessWeek report that highlights the growing importance of employee wellness programs to bend the so-called cost curve for healthcare. Unfortunately, the report fails to live up to its subtitle: "Companies are targeting employee fitness to contain health-care costs, creating individualized plans using wearable technology and Web sites."

Companies including Intel, Papa John's International, Timberland, Scotts Miracle-Gro, and International Paper offer employees memberships to online health services that provide nutrition and fitness information, according to BusinessWeek. Some conduct health screenings or track employees' workouts. The report also notes that some companies are even equipping employees with pedometers but does not dig any deeper on devices used.

While the BusinessWeek article highlights "wearable technologies" as one arrow in these wellness programs' quivers, the pedometer mention was the only one mentioned specifically. The special report also includes a slideshow of "Gadgets to Help You Get Fit" that includes a number of familiar products like Philips' DirectLife activity monitor, Zeo's personal sleep coach, FitBit's activity monitor and WiThings' wireless scale WiScale. The BW report, however, does not mention whether any employee wellness programs are actually using these devices.

If the subtext here is that these wellness programs should make use of these new consumer health products: We wholeheartedly agree.

To read the trend piece on employee wellness program, head over to BusinessWeek
Also, check out the gadgets slideshow here