Healthiest State Blog

The Healthiest State Takes on Reform in D.C.

 Leaders of the Healthiest State in the Nation Campaign have long fought for true health reform in Washington state. Last week, they took that fight across the country to our Nation's Capitol.

Armed with a suggested plan for health reform, and the involvement of 40,000 people, 1,200 organizations and 400 schools in our unique civic engagement network, Healthiest State Campaign staff and volunteers pressed our case to our congressional delegation and potential national partners.

Interestingly enough, our principle of "prevention" is agreed on as a necessary ingredient by almost everyone we spoke with this past week.  Indeed, one coalition that is being touted as a key to moving reform (the Health Reform Dialogue) has adopted a set of principles very close to ours.

Yet, our trip also revealed that the politics of reform,  and the lack of a strong constituency for prevention and wellness, might lead to it being dropped from the end product before all is said and done.  This is, in our opinion, an unacceptable outcome. So, we are working on our own action plan, including detailing the specific policy proposals that should be included, to make sure this doesn't happen. 

Pressing for health reform has become one of the top priorities for our Campaign this year.  As always, our approach will be based on engagement by those who have joined our Campaign.  Let us know if you share our core belief that this is a battle worth fighting, and whether you are willing to stand with us to get it done!

Washington Elementary Students Taste The Fruits Of Their Labor

Washington Elementary School in Auburn  is one of a growing number of schools across Washington state, embracing the Coordinated School Health Program. The program was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and it combines physical, emotional, social and nutritional elements to create a healthier learning environment for students.

Pauline Thomas, principal of Washington Elementary, is turning her own ideas to promote Coordinated School Health into action. Beyond their regular physical education classes, Washington students participate in a variety of activities, including yoga club, walking club and an after school sports club that meets 5 days a week. Washington has been part of the Healthiest State Campaign since 2006, and has logged more than 120,000 miles of physical activity on our trackers at HealthiestState.org!

Nutrition is also integrated into the curriculum at Washington. The students developed their own garden where they cultivate, plant and harvest fruits and vegetables. The food is then brought into the school cafeteria and served during lunch.

Click on the video below to hear the principal, Pauline Thomas, talk about this exciting project.

 

Nudging in the Lunch Line

smarterlunchrooms.org is a website that is helping schools nudge students into making healthier choices in the lunch line. The website provides "recent research for smarter lunchrooms".

Across the country, many have attempted to ban unhealthy foods and beverages from the school environment. Competitive foods and beverage contracts are at the center of this debate. The demand to remove these unhealthy options from schools has turned into a battle because many of these foods and beverages provide essential revenue to schools. The website www.smarterlunchrooms.org  does not propose elimination of these "unhealthy" options. Instead, the website provides research and helpful ideas to educate our students about making healthy choices. They make suggestions such as more creative names when describing healthy options, increasing the price for unhealthy options while lowering the cost of the healthy options, a cash only payment system for unhealthy choices, placing the unhealthier choices further away, using smaller plates and more. What would nudge you to make a healthier choice in the lunch line?

10 Ways to Eat Healthy in Tight Times (No not your jeans!)

 Guest Bloggers: Matt Hoover & Suzy Preston, winners of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, Season 2

Today’s economy is affecting all of us.  Most everyone is looking for ways to cut costs and tighten their budgets.  One of the first ways many people choose to cut cost is by changing their eating habits.  We are going to share ways that individuals and families can continue to eat healthy even during these times.

1.    Eating healthy foods can cost more but don’t let that deter you from doing the best you can.  Consider eating a healthy diet an investment in YOU!

2.    Change the way you eat.  Americans consume way too much food.  Learn what a portion size is and prepare your meals accordingly.  Suzy and I started making only enough food for each of us to have ONE, yes, one portion.  At first it seemed like we weren’t getting enough food, but we adjusted and are now filled up after eating.

3.    Use a smaller plate.  A smaller plate will make it look like you are getting a bigger portion.

4.    Buy frozen.  Frozen foods get a bad rap.  By purchasing frozen food you can buy more at a usually cheaper price and will be able to use the product multiple times in multiple dishes.

5.    Buy different sauces.  If you buy a bag of frozen chicken, you can prepare it so it has a different flavor by adding a different sauce.  As with frozen products you can have multiple dishes using the same product.

6.    Make a night out a night in.  Rather than going out to eat, set the table nicely and add flowers or candles.  Turn on some soothing music and have a date right in your own house.

7.    Only shop once a week.  Make a list and stick to it.  Running to the store everyday can add up.  Decide to eat what you have before buying more.

8.    Get the family on board.  Explain to all involved why you are making changes.  Explain that this is necessary not only for the pocket book, but also for health reasons.

9.    Prepare meals ahead of time.  Set aside some time on Sunday to prepare meals for the week.  Each of your meals will be ready to go.  All you have to do is throw the meal in the oven and then serve it.

10.    Follow through!  Make the decision to get healthy and save money.  By not eating out and sticking to your plan you will save some much needed money—and enjoy the health benefits.

Learn more about healthy living from Matt and Suzy at Matt’s website:
www.matt-hoover.com.

No Insurance? No Problem (or is it) To Young Invincibles

There is an interesting article on CNN's website today titled: Young invincibles OK with risk of no insurance.

Young invincibles is a term often used to describe the more than 13-million Americans, 18-to-29 years old, who are uninsured. According to a recent New York Times story, these young adults "shun insurance either because their age makes them feel invulnerable or because expensive policies are out of reach."

However, a report released by the Centers for Disease Control back in February showed more than a quarter of young men and one-fifth of young women are smokers, one-in-four in this age group are obese and their exercise rates are below recommended levels.

Amy Bernstein, lead author of the CDC study, said:

"People tend to think of this age group as very healthy, and it is true, they’re probably healthier than other adults. They are young and strong and invincible—that’s what some people call them—the “young invincibles.” But they have the same preventive needs as everyone else. They need to get their teeth cleaned; women need to get gynecological checkups; men need to get checkups periodically, as much as anyone else does. About 9% of young adults aged 18 to 29 have a mental disorder such as major depression or anxiety disorder. Many of them have asthma; more and more of them are having other chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. They can get cancer. I think that just because they are less likely to get these things in many cases, doesn’t mean that they don’t have a need for medical care. In fact, 17% of them reported that there was medical care they needed and did not receive in the past year. So they do have health needs, and we shouldn’t forget that."

WSU Snack Machines Get A Makeover

Organic, vegetarian and vegan foods are now available in snack machines at the Washington State University campus in Pullman. It is part of the university's Eat Well program.

In step with the Healthiest State Campaign's belief on the importance of prevention and wellness, WSU recently unveiled a new publication titled: Wellbeing Magazine. One of the articles in the magazine is called "Navigating Your Snacks" and it contains an eye-popping survey from The Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The survey of more than 200 schools found that 75 percent of all drinks and 85 percent of all snacks sold through school vending machines were of poor nutritional value. So, beginning in the fall, vending machines at WSU were restocked with more nutritious snacks for students on the go. The move toward healthier snack machines in schools is catching on across the country as we found in this recent article out of a newspaper in Oklahoma.

This focus on better nutrition is one of the core values of the Healthiest State Campaign. We ranked 15th nationally in nutrition in the 2008 Healthiest State Report Card. That ranking is based on the percentage of adults who report consuming five or more servings of fruit and vegetables each day.

Watch the video below to see Washington State University Employee Wellness Coordinator Brad Stewart talk about the school's new "healthier" snack machines.

American Hospital Association Steps Up to Reform of "Health"

At a national gathering of hospital and other community health groups, Thomas Priselac, President & CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System and Chairman of the American Hospital Association, stressed the importance of bringing health improvement into the calls for health care reform.  Speaking to members of the Association for Community Health Improvement (ACHI), Mr. Priselac noted that a focus on wellness is one of the five pillars for change in the AHA's Health for Life framework. He noted that we have failed to achieve the health for all Americans, and that a recent poll showed there is overwhelming support by the public for wellness to be included in health reform.

The American Hospital Association's support for this is an important development, given the historic reluctance of many provider, insurance and business association interests to extend their health reform advocacy beyond coverage and cost matters closer to their immediate self interests.  In response to questions, Mr. Priselac identified some of the specific actions on the part of AHA to further their call for health improvement.

WHF President & CEO Greg Vigdor is a member of the ACHI Advisory Council and was in attendance at this speech in Los Angeles.  Next week, he and WHF Board Chair Dr. Ken Isaacs will lead a staff Healthiest State Campaign team to Washington, D.C. to explore the best ways for our Campaign to press the case for true health reform.  Watch our blog for reports on what they find from our Nation's Capitol!

Report Rates "Value" Of U.S Health Care System

"The costs and performance of the U.S. health care system have put America’s companies and workers at a significant competitive disadvantage in the global marketplace." That sobering statement comes out of a new report from the Business Roundtable, which represents CEOs of major companies.

The report points out the U.S. spent $1,928 per capita on health care in 2006, at least two-and-a-half times more per person than any other advanced country. The report then took those costs, factored in benefits and tried to put a 100 point sliding scale "value" on our health care system compared to others around the world.

The cost/benefit results are not pretty. The United States is 23 points behind five leading economic competitors: Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. The gap was even wider when comparing our numbers against China, Brazil and India.

To help visualize America's plight, the report described the disparity of a 100 yard race with the U.S. 23 yards behind at the start.

The report's bottom line is this: U.S. health care costs too much and delivers too little providing little value compared with health systems in other countries.

"Increasing Value in Health Services" is one of the Healthiest State Campaign's key action areas.  In Olympia, we have told state policymakers that they should act on the current state budget crisis by investing in prevention for the long term health benefits of the state and the people who live here.

We have long championed the idea that fixing our broken health care system isn't about putting in more money, but finding better ways to spend the money that is already available - a view now shared in a new national report that sees us falling farther behind our global competitors.

 

New Report On Fate Of Public Health During Economic Downturn

Trust For America's Health just released a report titled: Shortchanging America’s Health: A State-by-State Look at How Federal Public Health Dollars are Spent.

According to the report, Western states received more money from the federal government last year to spend on public health than any other area of the country. Washington state received an average of $21.34 per person from the Feds. That was the 15th highest amount in the nation and well above the national average of $17.60.

It's a good thing that Washington does better than average pulling down federal public health money. Given what's going on with the state budget, we may need those federal dollars along with a hefty chunk of the federal stimulus package to keep our state public health above water.

According to Trust For America's Health and our own 2008 Healthiest State Report Card, Washington ranked 20th in state spending for public health at roughly $40 dollars per person. So, between federal and state money we are at about $60 per person.

But Governor Gregoire's initial budget for the next two years already proposed eliminating tens of millions in public health funding. And that proposal came out when the state budget shortfall was just $5.7 billion dollars.

A recent state revenue forecast showed Washington's state budget shortfall is up to $8 billion dollars. The Seattle Times recently reported, "As a proportion of the state's general fund, that's nearly as bad as the mess in California."

"The financial crisis makes it more important than ever for the country to make prevention a top priority," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Even in these troubled times, prevention is an investment we can count on to deliver a big payoff - sparing millions of people from developing preventable diseases while saving billions in health care costs."

Prevention has long been a cornerstone of the Healthiest State Campaign.  It began with our fight for increased public health funding and accountability, but is now far beyond that.  We serve as a voice for those who cry out for health equity. We have developed our own Prevention Initiative to promote preventive services among employees through workplace wellness programs and more. As part of our Initiative we are urging that prevention be kept free for all the partial premium payers in the Basic Health Plan. In fact, prevention may be the most important and least well observed Priority of Government in our state.  You can read a brief overview of our Initiative titled, Prevention is Basic by clicking here.

Colon Cancer Rankings: A State-By-State Report Card

It is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Yet when detected early, colon cancer is also among the most treatable.

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month and a just-released report card indicates some states are doing much better than others when it comes to colon cancer screening laws. The 2009 Colorectal Cancer Legislation Report Card grades every state. Washington is one of 21 states to receive an A.

In 2007, Washington state passed a law mandating that colon-cancer screenings be covered by all insurers for people 50 and older and those who are at high risk. This type of preventive care is an essential part of our Healthiest State Campaign.

But, in our own 2008 Healthiest State Report Card, we found there is still much work to be done in our state around the Use of Proven Preventive Care. Washington state ranks well below the national average coming in at number 32 in use of preventive care - a composite measure including colorectal cancer screening, prenatal care, children's immunization, mammography, cholesterol screening and flouridation of public water systems.

The cause of our lower numbers in preventive care seems to be two fold; many providers are not offering these preventive screenings to their patients and many patients do not know that they can/should be asking for these screenings. It is critical to spread the message across our state about the importance of preventive care. Preventive screenings, such as the one that checks for colon cancer, is the key to early detection. And early detection often means the difference between treatment and tragedy.