Be a Voice for a Healthier America
Join the effort to include prevention in health care reform. The Campaign for a Healthier America is a national grassroots project aimed at making healthy lifestyles a priority for all Americans.
Health Care Reform, Prevention, Cost-Savings
7.22.09
President Barack Obama will address the nation tonight in a prime time news conference on health care reform. This is the latest event in what has been a full court press by the White House in recent days to try to build awareness and momentum around the debate. At a White House Rose Garden event on Tuesday, Obama said, “We've agreed that our health reform bill will emphasize prevention and wellness by investing in programs that help Americans live healthier lives. We will save money, prevent illness, and increase the competitiveness of our country. “
IHRSA and its partners continue to encourage legislators to use prevention to contain skyrocketing costs. In a statement released Monday, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) urged Congress to focus on the number one driver of health care costs- chronic disease. "We must focus on disease prevention and wellness in order to reduce unnecessary - and often preventable - costs and create a sustainable health care system," said Ken Thorpe, Ph.D., PFCD Executive Director. "We hope that as other Senate and House committees continue through mark ups, they will make certain that their bills contain adequate measures to address the economic burden of chronic disease and control costs in order to insure the passage of comprehensive, sustainable health care reform legislation in 2009."
While members of Congress and the Obama administration discuss health care reform, the President continues to call on Congress to move bills out of committee and to vote before the scheduled August recess. Though some in Washington are beginning to call the deadline impossible, committees are working very quickly to mark up the bills as soon as possible making this a crucial time for IHRSA’s Personal Health Investment Today Act and Workplace Health Improvement Program Act.
“Our DC team has been actively engaging with key legislators in both the House and the Senate on including the WHIP and PHIT Acts in health care reform,” said Helen Durkin, executive vice president IHRSA public policy. “But we do not have a million dollars a day to spend like the insurance and pharmaceutical lobbies. Our strength is the number of fitness professionals across America that are passionate about creating a culture of wellness in our nation.”
Fitness professionals can do their part by writing an email to Congress asking for their support of exercise as part of prevention in health care reform. All of the details are provided online at http://ihrsa.org/campaign. Clubs will be speaking out for legislation that not only encourages Americans to lead healthy lives but also provides them tax incentives to do so while promoting health clubs and growing the number of Americans with gym memberships.
Moore: Health care reform requires attitude change for all The following commentary by Joe Moore, IHRSA President & CEO, was published by McClatchy News, the third largest newspaper company in the United States.
Until the mindset of America shifts dramatically, no health care reform bill will ever work.
What has undermined our current health care system isn't a question of private vs. universal coverage. And it's not a question of how many diagnostic tests doctors should be ordering. It's a question of how we approach our health altogether and what we're willing to do to prevent disease in the first place… Read the entire column.
Encouraging Healthy Behavior at Safeway and Getting Obama's Attention
President Barack Obama has recently mentioned Safeway more than once as an example of a company that is not only helping employees lead healthier lives, but is also seeing a bottom line return through a health plan that rewards healthy behavior. The Pleasanton, California-based grocer has 25,000 employees who voluntarily measure their weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol as well as answer questions about smoking. Employees who score well on the health assessment pay a lower premium, and those who improve over time can collect a rebate. CEO Steve Burd equates the program with the business model of auto insurers who use driving records to determine premiums. The results have been beneficial to the company's bottom line. In the four year history of the program, Safeway's health care costs have remained unchanged, while most other companies have experienced a 40 percent increase. Safeway supports the healthy lifestyles of their employees by providing access to on-site fitness facilities and cafeterias with healthy dining options.
Watch a video from ABC News about this "different approach to health care."
Health Care Reform Updates
7.15.09
House Democrats released the one thousand page “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009’’ on Tuesday. Amongst the flurry of health care reform debates in Washington, this particular bill is receiving much attention for its proposed funding of the estimated $1.2 trillion plan. The legislation would seek a modified adjusted gross income tax on earnings over $350,000 for American families starting in 2011. A family earning $500,000 would pay an estimated $1,500 annually to subsidize coverage for the uninsured.
It is unclear yet exactly the extent of prevention and wellness previsions included in the bill. IHRSA staff is currently reviewing the legislation.
On Monday, President Barack Obama met with leading Senate and House Democrats. He urged Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), chair of the Senate Committee on Finance to introduce their version of the bill by the end of the week. The Committee has delayed introduction of their legislative proposal in an effort to decrease cost estimates to less than $1 trillion. After the meeting, Senator Kent Conrad, chair of the Senate Committee on Budget indicated to reporters that Obama’s August deadline for passage may be too ambitious, especially given that the Senate is currently holding confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
The Senate also inserted a measure into the proposal released earlier this week from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The measure would allow companies that offer group health insurance to increase to 30 percent the discount offered to employees who can show they have taken steps to improve their health. The increase is 10 percent above existing law and would enable the Obama administration to raise the discount to 50 percent. The measure has bi-partisan support in the Senate but it is unclear if how it will be accepted by members of the House. (Read an article about the measure.)
During the last seven months, IHRSA has been actively working to include exercise as prevention as a part of health care reform, including passage of the Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act and the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act as part of health care reform. During these crucial summer months, the Association is implementing a detailed action plan to expand Congressional support and broaden our base of support among members of Congress, to broaden our ally base, to maintain our aggressive grassroots efforts, and to look for other opportunities within health care reform to further industry objectives.
If you are interested in supporting IHRSA's Campaign for a Healthier America and including exercise as prevention as part of health care reform, visit www.ihrsa.org/campaign.
Health Care Debate Focuses on Corporate Wellness
7.7.09
As mentioned in last week’s edition of Capitol Report, there is significant chatter around the significant role of prevention in the health care reform debate. Journalists and policy makers alike have centered some of that debate on the need to bolster the role employers can have in enhancing employee health through wellness programs.
In her July 7, 2009 article, Ellen Wulfhorst suggests that there is a strong probability that companies will have more encouragement to offer an employee wellness program once the dust settles on health care reform. Currently, there are a number of proposals being considered that would motivate U.S. companies offer some sort of wellness program to decrease doctors visits and absenteeism and increase productivity.
Congress Weighs Rewarding Workplace Wellness
One such proposal that Ms. Wulfhorst’s article alluded to is the IHRSA-supported Healthy Workforce Act (H.R. 1897/ S.803).
Introduced in the House, April 2, 2009 by Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), the bill would provide a tax credit to employers for the costs of implementing wellness programs
If passed, employers would be entitled to a 50% tax credit for the costs of providing employees with a qualified wellness program, including subsidizing employees’ health club memberships.
Twists and Turns Create Urgency and Road Blocks for Health Care Reform
6.24.09
The health care reform debate is fast becoming a thrilling political drama with non-stop action. As Democrats in Congress and the White House push for passage of reform legislation by the end of the year, some by August, the breakneck pace is hitting some significant roadblocks.
As reported in last week’s issue of Capitol Report, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the initial bill proposed by Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s (D-MA) Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee would cost over $1 trillion, and leave more than 37 million Americans uninsured after ten years. Since that report, the Senate Committee on Finance has delayed the release of its bipartisan bill in an effort to trim the costs of the plan before it is made public. The White House has been working very closely with Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and the Finance Committee, as many observers believe that it is the best chance to produce bi-partisan support.
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and White House health reform director Nancy-Ann DeParle meet on Tuesday with Democratic Senators, from both committees to discuss the issue. Later today, President Obama will host a town hall meeting on health care at the White House after holding a meeting with five governors that hosted regional health care forums.
Meanwhile, the House held numerous hearings on health care reform this week. Introduced last Friday, the House legislation is the work of three House Committees. The bill lacks funding sources and has not yet been reviewed by the CBO.
IHRSA Urges Creation of Federal “Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives” Commission
IHRSA, in partnership with leading physicians, health organizations and nutrition experts, under the leadership of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, have joined together to urge President Obama and Congress to create a commission on “Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives.” The concept is modeled after the broad and well-funded anti-obesity efforts in the United Kingdom.
The role of the commission would be to stimulate and coordinate activities of the Departments of Health & Human Services, Department of Agriculture, and other agencies that are involved with health and food policy.
Other signatories of the letter include the American Diabetes Association, American Public Health Association, National Consumers League, Partnership for Prevention, Shape Up America, Trust for America’s Health, United Fresh Produce Association, and a number of state-level organizations.
Costs, Including Prevention, Come Under Fire in Health Care Debate6.17.09
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) held its first meeting today on proposed health care reform legislation. The meeting, led by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) in Chairman Edward Kennedy’s (D-MA) absence due to illness, comes amid increasing talk of costs and implications on the federal deficit.
Earlier this week the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reviewed the HELP bill in response to inquiries from Senators Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Judd Gregg (R-NH). The CBO estimated the plan currently being considered by the Committee would leave 37 million Americans uninsured and cost more than $1 trillion over ten years.
One of the areas addressed in the report is the cost for preventative care and wellness in health care reform. Overall, the report concludes that increasing access to preventative services and wellness could decrease costs by making people healthier but may not materialize savings because long-term empirical evidence is lacking for the broad array of services considered under this category, including programs to decrease obesity. One scenario presented is that while reducing chronic disease through healthy lifestyles would help people live longer, it could cost the government more in Social Security benefits.
In April, IHRSA along with the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease called on House leadership to update how the CBO produces estimates for health care bills. It made several recommendations for how the CBO can accurately estimate the fiscal impact of prevention legislation, such as including the deteriorating health of the population its estimated impact in the future, scoring beyond ten years to capture the long-term value of prevention, and incorporating broader economic impact, such as worker productivity. "The inability of the CBO to accurately account for savings created by prevention and wellness further demonstrates the lack of historical support for wellness initiatives in Washington," says Helen Durkin, J.D. IHRSA Executive Vice President of Global Public Policy. "With Congress and the White House calling on prevention as a key component of reform, the CBO needs to reevaluate its outdated modeling."
Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee and House Democrats are preparing to introduce their own reform bills shortly. Early estimates on the not yet public Finance Committee bill are $1.6 trillion over ten years. It is unclear how many Americans would be covered under the plan. Reportedly Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) wants the bill under $1 trillion. One thing that does seem apparent is that all options remain on the table. Despite some partisan banter, both sides seem willing to address health care reform. Costs and impact on the deficit will likely remain major points of contention throughout the debate.
President Obama Lauds Healthy Lifestyles to AMA Audience
During a major speech on health care reform to members of the American Medical Association, President Barack Obama made a pitch for healthy lifestyles.
“The second step that we can all agree on is to invest more in preventive care so that we can avoid illness and disease in the first place. That starts with each of us taking more responsibility for our health and the health of our children. It means quitting smoking, going in for that mammogram or colon cancer screening. It means going for a run or hitting the gym, and raising our children to step away from the video games and spend more time playing outside,” said Obama.
“It also means cutting down on all the junk food that is fueling an epidemic of obesity, putting far too many Americans, young and old, at greater risk of costly, chronic conditions. That’s a lesson Michelle and I have tried to instill in our daughters with the White House vegetable garden that Michelle planted. And that’s a lesson that we should work with local school districts to incorporate into their school lunch programs.”
Poll Finds Americans Rank Prevention as Top Health Care Reform Priority6.10.09
A new public opinion survey released Monday finds that Americans rank prevention as the most important health care reform priority, and overwhelmingly support increasing funding for prevention programs to reduce disease and keep people healthy. The poll was conducted for the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
In the poll, 70 percent of Americans ranked investing in prevention between an 8and 10 and 46 percent rated prevention as a 10 out of 10. Overall, prevention was rated higher than all other proposals, including providing tax credits to small businesses and prohibiting health insurers from denying coverage based on health status.
"This report shows that the American people believe prevention and wellness are the cornerstones of a high performing health care system. And they're right," said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont). "Today, we spend nearly $800 billion on health problems that are directly linked to lifestyle and poor health habits each year-about one third of our total health care spending. Simply put, that's too much. Reforming our system to focus on prevention will drive down costs and produce better health outcomes. That's why it is so important that we pass comprehensive health care reform this year."
More than three-quarters of Americans (76 percent) support increasing funding for prevention programs that provide people with information and resources and creating policies that help people make healthier choices. Investing in prevention is popular across the political spectrum, with 86 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of Republicans, and 70 percent of Independents supporting investing more in prevention. Read more about the poll.
Politico: Obama Looking to “Shape Up” America
Politico, a leading news source in Washington, D.C., ran a major piece today about President Barack Obama’s personal commitment to a healthy lifestyle and how that commitment is beginning to shape Administration policy.
According to Politico, “Any health care reform plan that Obama signs is almost certain to call for nutrition counseling, obesity screenings and wellness programs at workplaces and community centers. He wants more time in the school day for physical fitness, more nutritious school lunches and more bike paths, walking paths and grocery stores in underserved areas. “
The report notes that while there are some who feel the push for healthier lifestyles is beyond the scope of the federal government, efforts so far have broad bi-partisan support. “This isn’t about telling people what to do,” said Nick Papas, a spokesman for Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “It is about giving people the tools they need to live longer, healthier, happier lives.” Both Democrats and Republicans have introduced and are supporting legislation that promotes healthier lifestyles. IHRSA’s PHIT Act currently has 8 Democratic and 5 Republican co-sponsors.
IHRSA members are urged to write to President Obama to ask for his support of tax incentives for healthy lifestyles through the Campaign for a Healthier America's Virtual March on Washington.
Obama Urges Congress to Pass Health Care Reform by August6.3.09
Makes Economic Case for Reform, Includes Prevention
President Barack Obama has asked Congress to pass health care reform legislation before their August recess and called this a “make or break period.” The move comes as health care reform is increasingly a key issue for the White House. Yesterday, a major report was released and Obama met with Senate Democrats on key Committees to discuss reform.
The report, released early in the day, presented the economic case for health care reform from the White House Council of Economic Advisers. It covers the current economic impact of health care on the nation’s economy and a forecast of what could happen without reform. It then discusses key components of reform that would have major economic impacts, including slowing health care cost growth and expanding coverage.
The role of healthier lifestyles was noted as a key element of successful health care reform. “It will also be important to encourage individuals through education and incentives to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as exercising and healthy eating,” the report stated. “This is important because healthier lifestyle choices have positive, direct benefits on lowering costs.”
Yesterday afternoon, President Obama met with about two-dozen Democrats on the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Both Committees are working to create their own health care reform bills. Obama’s message to them coincided with the report from earlier in the day, that it is a major imperative for the White House that long-term costs are driven down. In addition, the group discussed how to fund immediate changes to the nation’s health care system. According to reports, there was talk about the taxation of health benefits, which Senator Max Baucus of Montana claims will raise $250 billion annually. A White House statement said that Obama prefers funding methods outlined in earlier reports that do not include such taxes.
Underscoring the days events was the sense of urgency being conveyed by Obama. "We can't afford to put this off," Obama said at the start of a meeting the Senate Democrats. "This window between now and the [Senate's] August recess I think is going to be the make-or-break period. This is the time where we've got to get this running."
Virtual March on DC Continues5.27.09
As the House and Senate continue to make progress towards the introduction of health care reform legislation, IHRSA is urging all members to take part in the Campaign for a Healthier America and to write to President Obama and their Representative and Senators to express their support for physical activity as a vital part of prevention. Legislative Committees and informal groups of key policymakers have recently been convening on Capitol Hill to determine the best approach to the legislation, which many indicate will be passed this summer.
During these discussions, it is important for policymakers to not only hear the voices of the insurers, the hospitals, the pharmaceutical companies and patient advocates, but also the voices those who support prevention. That is why IHRSA is asking all fitness professionals to spend a few minutes writing an email that shares the story of the impact of regular exercise on their own health or one of their members. These are the powerful stories that give a face to the issue and allow legislators to understand the impact that exercise has on the lives of their constituents.
Join the Campaign for a Healthier America's Virtual March on Washington and by using our online advocacy system you can speak out for a healthier America in just a few minutes.
Federal Health Promotion Bills Gaining Support in the House
In recent weeks both the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act and the Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act have secured additional co-sponsors in the United States House of Representatives.
The following are new co-sponsors since May 5th.
Personal Health Investment Today Act (H.R. 2105)
Rep. Barton, Joe (R-Texas)
Rep. Brady, Robert A. (D-Pennsylvania)
Rep. Carney, Christopher P. (D-Pennsylvania)
Rep. Gerlach, Jim (R-Pennsylvania)
Rep. Gingrey, Phil (R-Georgia)
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy (D-Ohio)
Rep. McIntyre, Mike (D-North Carolina)
Rep. Payne, Donald M. (D-New Jersey)
Rep. Wexler, Robert (D-Florida)
Workforce Health Improvement Program Act (H.R. 2106/S. 913)
Rep. Boozman, John (R-Arkansas)
Rep. Dent, Charles W. (R-Pennsylvania)
Rep. Gerlach, Jim (R-Pennsylvania)
Rep. Paul, Ron (R-Texas)
Rep. Wilson, Joe (R-South Carolina)
Baucus, Grassley Release Policy Options for Financing Health Care Reform5.20.09
On Monday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released a report on policy options for financing comprehensive health care reform. This is the third and final report from the Committee before they begin to mark up legislation in June. Three potential areas for funding are explored in the report; two are significant for IHRSA’s health promotion efforts.
One section the report explores current health care tax expenditures. Among those, are nine different policy options including modifying or eliminating Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Any change to FSAs is of particular importance to the fitness industry as it is the main tax vehicle for the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act (H.R. 2105).
While this report is not an outline of legislation that the Committee will consider, it does indicate the direction of the policies the Committee could well pursue. IHRSA has been and continues to heavily lobby members of the Senate Finance Committee and other Senators for their support of the PHIT Act. In fact, two Senators have expressed strong interest in introducing the bill in the Senate (it is currently, and historically has been, introduced in the House only). Fitness professionals are also speaking out. Earlier this month during the Summit for a Healthier America, fitness professionals met with staffers on the Committee and the offices of Senators on the Committee. It will be vital to the potential inclusion in any health care reform legislation that there is vocal support for Americans to continue to have access to FSAs and that FSAs be expanded to encourage healthy lifestyles.
The Senate report did address lifestyle tax proposals to “promote wellness and healthy lifestyle choices, and curb activities that increase overall health care costs.” The two policy options presented included the taxation of alcoholic beverages and excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. These measures demonstrate the Committee’s recognition that tax policy is a proven way to effect individual behavior change.
While these policies might “curb activities that increase overall health care costs” they do not go far enough to “promote wellness and healthy lifestyle choices.” Diet is only one part of the balance needed for a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity provides health benefits that diet alone cannot achieve. IHRSA will continue to lobby the Finance Committee and key Members of Congress for their support of tax policies that encourage physical activity as part of health care reform.
While IHRSA lobbies key Members, it is important that all Members of Congress hear from fitness professionals in their districts about the power of exercise and its impact on the people that they represent on Capitol Hill. You can make your voice heard by joining the Campaign for a Healthier America.
Workplace Wellness is the Talk of DC5.13.09
As the discussions surrounding health care reform heat up, workplace wellness is increasingly at the forefront for political leaders. Here is a sample of what’s being said in Washington:
President Barack Obama held a roundtable discussion with leading businesses on their innovative uses of workplace wellness practices. Included in the talks were Pitney Bowes, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, and REI.
According to a White House statement, Obama will “direct the Office of Personnel Management to work with the Office of Health Reform, the National Economic Council, the Department of Labor, and the Office of Management and Budget to examine successful employer wellness and prevention practices that lower health care costs and improve employees’ health and to explore the feasibility of developing such a plan for federal employees and their workplaces.”
"The president hopes that by encouraging more employers to adopt similar programs, we can improve the productivity of our workforce, delay or avoid many of the complications of chronic diseases, and slow medical cost growth," the statement said.
Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) have been strongly supporting the inclusion of workplace wellness in health care reform from their powerful positions on the Senate Committee on Finance. “Prevention and wellness should be a centerpiece of health care reform,” said Senator Harkin in a recent New York Times article. The Senator also released a statement yesterday lauding Obama’s meeting with business leaders on workplace wellness. He is strongly supporting the inclusion of the Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act as part of the package that the Committee will release later this month. Harkin is a primary co-sponsor of IHRSA’s WHIP Act.
US Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) has also been talking up prevention. In a recent post on “The Hill’s Congress Blog,”Rep. Kind was touting the importance of prevention and workplace wellness. He specifically referenced the important contribution of the WHIP and PHIT Acts in these areas. He is the primary sponsor of both bills in the House.
IHRSA's Signature Health Care Reform Bills Introduced in Congress with Bipartisan Support4.29.09
Capitol Hill is more active than ever, as exercise enthusiasts and advocates from around the country embark on the Campaign for a Healthier America - a grassroots intitiativeto pass IHRSA’s signature health care reform bills introduced earlier this week in Congress with bipartisan support.
The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act (H.R. 2105) would allow individuals and families to pay for various physical activities, such as health club memberships or soccer league fees, with funds deposited in a Flexible Spending Account. The Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act (H.R. 2106/ S. 913) would allow employers to deduct the cost of offsite fitness memberships for their employees and re-classify the memberships as nontaxable fringe benefits for employees.
Senator Cornyn (R-TX), introducing the WHIP Act to his Senate colleagues, spoke eloquently and powerfully on the importance of physical activity. “Public health experts unanimously agree that people who maintain active and healthy lifestyles dramatically reduce their risk of contracting chronic diseases,” noted Cornyn. “And as the government works to reign in the high cost of health care, it is worth talking about what we all can do to help ourselves...Prevention is key, and exercise is a primary component in the prevention of many adverse health conditions that can arise over one's lifetime. A physically fit population helps to decrease health-care costs, reduce governmental spending, reduce illnesses, and improve worker productivity.”
“This is a very exciting time for the industry,” said Helen Durkin, IHRSA’s Executive Vice President of Global Public Policy. “Congress is beginning to understand the critical importance of policies that would encourage physical activity. At the same time, though, they need to hear from constituents – they need to know that voters are paying attention. Anyone who is passionate about fitness should not hesitate to contact their legislators and urge them to pass these important bills.”
The PHIT and WHIP Acts were introduced in the House of Representatives by long-time exercise advocate Representative Ron Kind (D-WI). Additional House co-sponsors at the time of introduction include, for the WHIP and PHIT Acts Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN); and for the PHIT Act, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Kevin Brady (R-TX). Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) is a co-sponsor of the WHIP Act in the Senate.
Both bills are heavily supported by IHRSA’s Campaign for a Healthier America, which will host the Summit for a Healthier America on May 6-7 in Washington, DC. Fitness professionals from across America are encouraged to support their colleagues as they travel to Capitol Hill next week, by taking a few minutes to use the online advocacy system to write an email to the legislators about both bills. In just a few minutes you can help make the introduction of these bills a grand entrance! Don’t delay, take action today.
IHRSA Sends Letter to Congressional Leadership on "Scoring" Prevention
4.22.09
IHRSA and the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease have sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid calling on leaders in Congress to encourage updates in how the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) produces estimates for the cost of legislative proposals in health care, also known as “scoring.”
Specifically, the letter cited limitations in the current methods that, once corrected, would more accurately recognize the value of health care efforts aimed at attacking a significant driver of health care costs: the unchecked growth in common and costly chronic diseases, and related problems such as obesity.
The letter, which was co-signed by 150 partner organizations, made several recommendations for how the CBO can more accurately estimate the fiscal impact of legislation, including:
A revision of "baseline" cost estimates to take in to account the deteriorating health status of the population and the estimated impact of this trend on spending in the years ahead
The ability to score savings beyond the commonly-accepted 10-year scoring window in order to sufficiently capture the long-term value of population health improvement programs
An estimate of the broader economic impact a policy change to promote population health will have on productivity and, ultimately, the economy
“This is an important issue for prevention legislation,” says Helen Durkin, IHRSA EVP of Global Public Policy. “Having a more accurate score for bills such at the WHIP and PHIT Acts will further demonstrate the broad and long-term cost savings and the importance of such legislation in the reform of the nation’s health care system.”
Sebelius Nomination Heads to Senate Floor for Vote
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius’ nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services heads to the floor of the Senate for a vote. After some uneasy questioning by Republicans on the Finance Committee, the nomination moved forward with a 15-8 vote. All but two Republicans, Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine and Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, voted no on her nomination. Despite Republican opposition in the Committee, it is widely expected that the Senate will pass her nomination.
Sebelius was nominated by President Barack Obama after his first choice, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination after issues about unpaid taxes arose. During the nomination process, Sebelius herself, paid $8,000 in back taxes.
Some DC-watchers believe that the strong resistance to her nomination in Committee could signal that Republicans are moving towards a more confrontational approach on health care reform.
Acting Surgeon General Speaks About the Physical Activity Guidelines
Earlier this month, Acting Surgeon General, Dr. Steven Galson spoke about the nation’s first federal physical activity guidelines that were released in late 2008. Galson speaks about the importance of exercise for people across the country, especially as health care costs continue to rise. Watch his video.
Lead a Health Care Discussion for the Obama Transition Team NEW-12.17.08
If you are looking for another way to share your thoughts and stories on health care reform, the Obama Transition Team has a request. President-Elect Barack Obama and former Senator Tom Dashle, his nominee for HHS Secretary, are asking Americans to host Health Care Community Discussions. In your home, in your club, wherever. They want you to gather the people in your community and discuss ideas for health care reform. Sign up today on http://change.gov/. The Transition Team will provide you with a special Moderator's Guide and everything you need to get the conversation started, then how to report back to them on what you talked about.
Watch former Senator Tom Dashle discuss why these Community Discussions are so important.
Of the People, By the People: Speak Out on Change.gov Updated-12.10.08
We are asking you to take 2 minutes to raise your voice for a healthier America. As a health and fitness industry professional, you have a unique insight about the power of exercise and prevention. The incoming Obama-Biden Administration is looking to the American people for ideas about health care reform. We need you to tell them that exercise and prevention must be a part of any health care reform and the effort to create a healthier America.
Take a few minutes to visit http://change.gov/agenda/health_care_agenda to learn more about the Obama-Biden plan and to tell them that physical activity is a critical part of prevention and health care reform.
Here are a few things to consider:
You are an expert. You are on the frontlines of the battle against inactivity and obesity every day. Share with them a powerful story about how exercise has benefited the people in your community.
Clubs are employers. In these tough economic times, the incoming Administration should be hearing how the health club industry is not only making America healthier but is employing many people. Share stories about the employees at the health club your run or work at.
It’s about you. This is about sharing your thoughts, stories, and experience.
A little help. If you’d like a little guidance, here are some points to consider for your message. Ask the incoming Administration to:
- Recognize that physical activity is integral to prevention
- Do all that it can to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles
- Remove barriers to physical activity
Former Sen. Dashle Encourages Americans to 'Join the Discussion' Updated-12.02.08
Former Senator Tom Dashle has been tapped by President-Elect Barack Obama to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services and to take the lead on the health care reform effort by the Administration. Check out the video below where Sen. Dashle talks about some of the suggestions submitted by Americans so far. (Hint: Prevention is the first topic!)
Health Care Reform Vision for a Healthier America
The incoming Obama Adminstration will address health care reform in 2009. In advance of this debate, IHRSA worked with members to lay out the fundamentals our argument for exercise and prevention as key components in the health care reform debate.
Where Congress Stands
Learn where the 63 new Members of Congress stand on health care reform.
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Stay Informed
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Speak out today for tax incentives to healthy lifestyles.
