In the near future, the federal government may offer help to employers looking to start a wellness program. The help would take the form of tax breaks to offset program costs.

A current U.S. Senate bill would give employers a substantial tax break for starting wellness programs. Dubbed the Healthy Workforce Act, it calls for an employer tax credit of up to $200 per employee enrolled in a newly created wellness program.

For larger firms, there is the $200 credit for the first 200 employees and up to $100 per employee thereafter. To qualify for the full credit, your wellness program would have to feature:

• health risk assessments
• employee education drives (e.g., targeted mailings, online tools)
• behavior change programs (e.g., smoking cessation, weight management, health coaches), and
• “meaningful” participation incentives (e.g., lower co-pays).

Qualified employers would be able to claim the tax credit for up to 10 years after starting a wellness program.

The bill has enjoyed bipartisan support, but like many things in Washington, the parties disagree over how to fund the cost of the tax credit. As a result, it has been bogged down in committee.

If and when the bill is ratified, employers could claim the federal tax credit the following year.