DOI organizations may establish health programs to promote and maintain the physical and mental fitness of their employees. These programs may be designed to prevent disease and disability, foster health lifestyle practices, and support a healthy working environment. They can contribute to improved performance and productivity; fewer workplace accidents, injuries, and disability retirements; and improved employee well-being.
The kinds of health services provided by DOI organizations can include Employee Assistance Programs, emergency first aid, immunizations, physical examinations, and medical screening tests. They can also include health risk appraisals, educational programs (e.g. those dealing with smoking cessation, diet and nutrition, cholesterol, hypertension, substance abuse, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and stress management), and physical fitness programs. The Comptroller General has concluded that Federal agencies have the authority to use appropriated funds to pay the costs of such programs.
There are a variety of ways in which DOI organizations can plan and administer their health programs. They should, of course, first determine the need for, or interest in, the programs. Where appropriate, this could be determined through employee surveys or dealings with employee representatives. Where programs are initiated, they can be staffed with employees or contracted for with private sector organizations. Another option is a consortium of Federal agencies. In the case of physical fitness programs, private facility memberships in the name of the organization (or reduced membership fees negotiated by the organization on behalf of its employees) provide a possible avenue for giving employees access to private facility exercise programs. This option, however, should only be explored where there are no other viable alternatives.
| REF: n Title 5 USC 7901 n 68 Comp. Gen. 222 (February 3, 1989), B-240371 (January 18, 1991) |
