Healthiest State Blog

Three Ps and Three Principles: Health Reform Progress Continues

By: Heather Pitre, WHF Health Reform Project Coordinator

--an excerpt from Policy Thoughts by Don Sloma—

Progress continues in the health reform arena, and a new piece by WHF Policy Director Don Sloma spells it all out.  He addresses the three P's as Congress moves toward passing health reform legislation:  “We wish them Godspeed and good luck.  We urge you all to encourage them to Progress (if not perfection), Prevention (not just cure) and above all, Passage of the best plan they can move (as opposed to gridlock).”

The Healthiest State Campaign continues to advocate strongly for health reform based on three principles:  Prevention, System Redesign, and Universality.  Together, we can reform health.

Read the full story here.

Could Health Reform Cure Obesity?

By: Andrew Ratzke, WHF Intern

A new report by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) titled F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America 2009, is enough to shock anyone who reads it. 

According to the report, over the past year adult obesity rates increased in 23 of America’s states!  Not only that, but not one state managed to lower its obesity rates.  Mississippi weighed in as the heaviest with 32.5% making them one of four states with at least 30% of it’s adult population being obese.  Thirty one of our states have adult obesity rates of over 25% and all but one of our states are above 20%.  And to think, in 1991, just 18 short years ago only one of our states had managed to break the 20% mark.

The news is even more grave for our children.  Since 1980 childhood obesity rates in the U.S. have more than tripled.  We now have states like Mississippi in which nearly half (44.4%) of the childhood population is considered overweight or obese.  And, as last year’s trends point out, there really isn’t any sign of a reverse trend.  In fact, for 11 of our states this was the third year in a row obesity rates went up.

In hopes of deterring Americans from continuing down the same unsuccessful path, the report suggests that it is finally time for the government to step up and take action.  Outside of promoting proven programs, helping make nutritious food more readily available, and increasing access to preventative care, researchers at both TFAH and RWJF think that we need a National Strategy to Combat Obesity. 

Prevention is one of the Healthiest State Campaign's three major initiatives for 2009. We believe prevention must be a key piece of the National Health Reform puzzle to help curb the skyrocketing obesity epidemic.

By making positive changes we’ll be able not only to prevent obesity, but the diseases and conditions that are associated with it.  With obesity rates down and healthier communities across the country we could end up saving billions not having to pay for things like diabetes or doctor visits for heart problems improving both our health care system and our quality of life. 

Getting the Most Out of Vegetables

By: Heather Pitre, WHF Health Reform Project Coordinator

Mother Nature is turning up the heat here in the Northwest. 

Temperatures are soaring and with weather like this, cold foods like salads are very appealing.

We all know we need to eat a lot of vegetables.  But how do we pack the most punch into what we eat?  NPR recently aired a story on doing just that.  And with so many good veggies in season right now, the choices are abundant.

It’s also nice to know that adding a little fat to our salads is actually good for us!  Those fat-free salad dressings are not all that beneficial.  Eating a tomato without a little fat will not allow your body to absorb all the nutrients it contains.  Bring on the olive oil!

The USDA website on the Food Pyramid is also a great resource. You can also find a chart on the recommended amount of vegetables according to age and sex. 

So as you look for ways to beat the heat, don't forget to include veggies as one of your "cool treats!"

Health Reform Talks Continue

President Barack Obama threw down the challenge. It now appears that challenge will not be met.

The President wanted health reform legislation before the August recess. But as lawmakers prepare to head off on a month long summer vacation, it seems unlikely we will see any health reform bills before they leave. 

That said--many Democrats insist missing the President's deadline does not mean health reform is dead. "We're on schedule either to do it now or to do it whenever," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday. Pelosi went on to say, "when we bring this bill to the floor it will win." According to a report on ABC News.com, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass, said there is agreement on about 80 percent of health reform and that over the next hours and days he sees further agreement emerging.

Does it matter to you that a health reform package is unlikely before the August recess? Do you think it hurts the chances for true reform down the road? Share your thoughts with the Healthiest State Campaign!

 

Health Reform Vote Unlikely by August

By: Heather Pitre, WHF Health Reform Project Coordinator

Despite President Obama's desire to have a health reform bill in place before the August recess, it now appears unlikely that that is going to happen. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said today that the Senate will not vote on health reform in time to meet the President's deadline. 

Reid is quoted by the Associated Press as saying, "It's better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through." According to CNN, Reid's announcement did not change President Obama's timetable. The network reports that a senior administration official says the president still wants the House and Senate to vote before the August recess.

Asked for her reaction at a Capitol Hill news conference, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-California said,"If the federal government fails to act now, we do so at the peril of the American people. The American taxpayer will continue to suffer from the economic consequences of absorbing health care costs that are spiraling out of control. We must act because the quality of life of millions of Americans and the health of our economy really hang in the balance." 

A CNN "Poll of Polls" released Wednesday shows that less than half of Americans now approve of how Obama is handling the issue.  The poll shows that 47 percent of Americans approve of how the president is dealing with health care reform, while 44 percent disapprove.

Is Health Care a Confidence Game?

By: Wills Mitchell, WHF Intern

While consumer confidence in health care rose 3.6 points in June, results from a monthly survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation tell a different story. The RWJF report points out how our view of health care is deeply divided by race and income.

The survey used an index range of 0-to-200 with a baseline of 100 and found, while non-Hispanic whites have a confidence level of 105.9, respondents of other races reported a level of 86.9.  Additionally, those Americans in the top one-third of incomes responded with a confidence level of 118, while those in the bottom third came in at 87.5.

This large difference in confidence in the health care system is due to the great health disparities in our country. While the better educated, the more affluent and the largely white population of America receives adequate health care, many minorities and lower income individuals and families do not have access to the same resources, facilities, and providers--if they have any access at all. National Health Reform is necessary in the fight to eliminate theses disparities and raise the confidence of all Americans. And health reform is one of the Healthiest State Campaign's three major initiatives in 2009.

Of the people surveyed…

85% believe health reform is an important part of addressing the nation’s economic crisis
43% believe that they will not be able to pay for future health care needs in the event of a serious illness
23% fear losing their health insurance within the next year
23% worry that their medical bills will bankrupt them

Read the full report here.

Dreaming Big: Imagine What Health Reform Could Look Like

By: Heather Pitre, WHF Health Reform Project Coordinator

Let’s just imagine that health reform passes this year.  And let’s imagine that it’s good, radical legislation that means major change.  Let’s say we were able to make the mind shift that health care for all is a right, not a privilege, and that every single person in the US has health coverage.  Let’s imagine a single payer, universal plan. Let’s imagine that prevention is part of that plan. 

What kinds of jobs would you apply for if you didn’t have to worry about your health benefits?  How much money would you save if you didn’t have to pay for your own coverage, or for the coverage of your family?  And what would you do with that extra money?  Would you travel?  Further your education?  Buy a house?  Buy a new dress?  How would your life change, for the better, if health care was a given?  For everyone, for free, all the time.  What kinds of dreams could come true for people in the U.S.? 

Change is never easy.  Reforming the health system will be hard, and it will hurt in some ways.  It will affect major industry, it will be expensive, and it will be complicated.  But it is essential, and in the long run, it will save money, and it will save lives. 

A poll released today by the Prevention Institute indicates bipartisan support for reform that includes prevention. The following is an excerpt from that report: “65% of Democrats and 62% Republicans polled agree that a lot more emphasis should be placed on prevention in the health care system. Both the House and Senate health reform bills currently include prevention as a strong element. The current prevention provisions focus on promoting healthy community environments, which have been proven to lead to healthier people.”

Write to us and let us know your thoughts.  Together, we can reform health.

Pieces Moving Fast in the Health Reform Puzzle

By: Heather Pitre, WHF Health Reform Project Coordinator

Much has happened in the health reform arena over the past several days.  And things continue to move quickly in D.C.  Five plans are currently up for review; none are final, but signs are encouraging that health reform legislation may just pass after all. 

"There are basically five different plans in Congress right now and there are a variety of ways," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, trying to calm nervous lawmakers whose re-elections could hinge on the legislation.  "More will be done," she said. "The House and the Senate are committed to working with the President to get this done."

Administration officials are still pushing for legislation to be complete before the August recess. Meeting that deadline, however, will not be easy. Perhaps making it even tougher--Insurance companies are now playing their own TV ads, launching a seven-figure, national cable TV ad buy starting Monday in favor of affordable bipartisan health reform that can cover everyone. But, the website "Politico" wrote, "make no mistake: The ads are sending a strong don’t-tread-on-us message, not so much a shot across the bow of reform as a reminder of the industry’s ability to weigh in at any time, with messages pro or con"

Chris Gregoire is also one of a number of Governor's voicing concern that states may get stuck with a big chunk of the health reform bill. “As a governor, my concern is that if we try to cost-shift to the states, we’re not going to be in a position to pick up the tab," Gregoire said.

So while recent signs are encouraging, there is still much work to be done and the road to meaningful health reform promises to be a bumpy ride.

Breaking Down Health Reform Legislation

The Healthiest State Campaign continues to closely monitor the ongoing health reform debate in Washington D.C. Not only is health reform one of the cornerstones of our Campaign this year, we have also developed our own National health reform recommendations.

With so much information coming at us every day it can be difficult to grasp the details of the plans now in the House and the Senate. A recent Associated Press news story breaks down the current bills into a series of short summaries. You can find that break down below.

◼Who's Covered House: About 94 percent of non-elderly residents (those not covered by Medicare, which takes effect kicks in at age 65), compared with 81 percent today. Senate: Aims to cover 97 percent of Americans. ◼Cost House: About $1.5 trillion over 10 years. Senate: About $615 billion over 10 years, but is only one piece of a larger Senate bill. ◼Financing House: $544 billion from a new income tax surcharge on single people making $280,000 or more a year and on couples making $350,000 and above; about $500 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid; about $200 billion from penalties paid by individuals and employers who don’t obtain coverage. Senate: Undetermined; Senate Finance Committee is responsible for financing. ◼Requirements for individuals House: Must have insurance, enforced through tax penalty of 2.5 percent of income. Some hardship waivers available. Senate: Similar provisions. ◼Requirements for employers House: Must provide insurance to their employees or pay a penalty of 8 percent of payroll. Companies with payroll under $250,000 annually are exempt. Senate: Employers who don’t offer coverage pay a penalty of $750 a year for each full-time worker. Businesses with 25 or fewer workers are exempted. ◼Subsidies House: Individuals and families with annual income up to 400 percent of poverty level ($88,000 for a family of four) would get help buying coverage. Senate: Similar provisions. ◼Choosing insurance House: Through a new Health Insurance Exchange open to individuals and, initially, small employers. States could operate exchanges if they follow federal rules. Senate: Individuals and small businesses could buy insurance through state-based purchasing pools. ◼Public insurance plan House: New Public plan available through the insurance exchanges would be set up and run by the secretary of health and human services. On average, it would pay Medicare rates plus 5 percent to doctors. Senate: New public plan to compete with private insurers that would be run by the government, but would pay doctors and hospitals based on what private insurers now pay. ◼Benefits House: Preventive services, mental health services, oral heath, and vision for children. Out-of pocket costs would be capped, and insurers would be barred from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Senate: Similar provisions.

"We Need To Buck People Up"

Those were the words of President Barack Obama as he spoke about health reform on Wednesday. The President made the statement because, he said, he believed Democrats needed another pep-talk as they continue to work on new health care legislation. President Obama then added, "we need to get this done."

Some in Congress say it is getting done. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a news conference today where she said, "This week Congress has made huge and historic progress.....it's pretty exciting." The House unveiled its health reform plan on Tuesday. A health reform package also passed out of a Senate panel on Wednesday.

However, how to pay for health reform remains a sticky subject in the debate. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the cost of the House's plan at more than $1 trillion over 10 years to insure 97% of Americans. That cost remains a major stumbling block in negotiations. Meanwhile--the White House continues to push to have a plan in place before the August recess.

Health reform is one of the Healthiest State Campaign's three major initiatives this year and we recently released comments detailing our own specific national health reform recommendations. We encourage you to read them and let us know what you think.