Partnership for Prevention Press Release RSS Feed

New ActionToQuit Policy Brief Now Available

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:59:00 GMT

ActionToQuit recently released a new policy brief, Addressing Tobacco Use Through Healthcare Systems, that describes how electronic medical record systems can increase delivery of effective tobacco cessation interventions in clinical settings and ultimately reduce tobacco use. The brief demonstrates that:
• Rates of smoking cessation interventions delivered by healthcare providers are unacceptably low, although these interventions are effective and cost-effective.
• When healthcare delivery systems use their electronic medical records to identify and record the patients who smoke, the percentage of smokers receiving interventions increases dramatically.
• A patient’s probability of quitting increases significantly each time they receive a brief intervention, thus lowering overall smoking prevalence.
• The likelihood of office visits for smoking-related diagnoses decreases after systems change occurs.
• Healthcare settings can realize significant cost savings from implementing these systems.
Click here for more information.

United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings® Finds Americans Living Longer but Unnecessarily Sicker

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:16:00 GMT

Media Contacts:
Lauren Mihajlov
(952) 936-3068
lauren_mihajlov@uhg.com

Jane Pennington
(952) 945-7508
jane.m.pennington@uhg.com

Minnetonka, Minn. (Dec. 11, 2012) – Americans are living longer due to several medical advances, but unhealthy behavior and preventable illness threaten quality of life, according to United Health Foundation’s 2012 America’s Health Rankings®.

While premature, cardiovascular and cancer deaths have declined since 1990 by 18.0 percent, 34.6 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively, Americans are experiencing troubling levels of obesity (27.8 percent of the adult population), diabetes (9.5 percent of the adult population), high blood pressure (30.8 percent of the adult population) and sedentary behavior (26.2 percent of the adult population).

State rankings

For the sixth year in a row, Vermont is the nation’s healthiest state. Hawaii is ranked second, followed by New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Minnesota. The five least healthy states are South Carolina (46), West Virginia (47), Arkansas (48), and Mississippi and Louisiana, which tied for the 49th slot. States that showed the most substantial improvement in rankings include: New Jersey (nine slots), Maryland (five slots), and Alabama, Colorado, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Rhode Island (three slots).

To see the Rankings in full, visit: www.americashealthrankings.org.

“The detailed information in the Rankings provides a roadmap for helping America become healthier,” said Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., chairman, Partnership for Prevention. “Even the healthiest states can identify areas for improvement, while those with lower rankings can see what’s possible by looking at where they stand.”

Sedentary behavior, obesity, diabetes, hypertension weigh on health, economy

Sedentary behavior, which is defined as not doing any physical activity outside of work for the last 30 days, is at dangerous levels, affecting 26.2 percent of Americans. Rates of sedentary behavior are as high as 35.0 percent of the adult population in Mississippi, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Obesity continues to be at epidemic levels and is one of the fastest-growing health challenges confronting our nation. The national median of obese adults is 27.8 percent; that means more than 66 million adults are obese, more than the entire population of the United Kingdom. In even the least obese state, Colorado, more than 20 percent of the population is obese. The combination of sedentary behavior and poor diet inevitably lead to increasing levels of obesity, which contributes to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other negative health outcomes.

Diabetes is also at epidemic levels. The percentage of adults with diabetes is as high as 12.0 percent in West Virginia, South Carolina and Mississippi.

America’s Health Rankings also finds that 30.8 percent of adults nationwide say they have elevated blood pressure, which is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of high blood pressure ranges from a low of 22.9 percent of adults in Utah to a high of 40.1 percent in Alabama.

“High prevalence of sedentary behavior, obesity, diabetes and hypertension means that a freight train of preventable chronic illnesses is going to crash into our health care system unless we take action now,” said Dr. Tuckson. “This trend is already affecting individuals’ lives and the system as a whole, but it will be devastating if left unchecked. We – as citizens, public health advocates, employers, employees, and family members – need to address unhealthy behaviors today if we want to save our children from a lifetime of needless pain and expense. As important as access to quality medical care is to our health, the way too many people are living today is actually the biggest risk to their health.”

Where you live matters: Least healthy states face significant challenges

This year’s Rankings saw stark differences between the five healthiest states (Vermont, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Minnesota) and the five least healthy states (Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, West Virginia and South Carolina). In comparing the top five and bottom five states, it is evident that the least healthy states face formidable challenges related to behavioral determinants of health and to socioeconomic factors that influence health.

While smoking rates in the five healthiest states range from 16.8 percent to 19.4 percent of the adult population, smoking rates are between 23.1 percent and 28.6 percent in the five least healthy states. Likewise, 27.2 percent to 36.0 percent of the population leads sedentary lives in the five least healthy states, compared to between 21.0 percent and 23.5 percent of the population in the five healthiest states.

The 2012 Rankings also illustrates the impact of a state’s economic climate on its residents’ health. The five highest-ranked states report a higher median household income ($51,862 to $65,880) than the five lowest-ranked states ($37,881 to $43,939). Rates of children in poverty, which range between 8.6 percent and 16.4 percent of residents in the five healthiest states, are between 24.4 percent and 30.5 percent in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, West Virginia and South Carolina. Per-capita income and poverty affect the ability of households to afford aspects of a healthy lifestyle.

Healthier states also report a healthier job climate. Unemployment rates range between 5.4 percent and 7.3 percent of the population in the top five ranked states, compared with between 7.8 to 10.5 percent of residents in the bottom five ranked states.

About America’s Health Rankings®

America’s Health Rankings® is an annual comprehensive assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by state basis. It is published jointly by United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association, and Partnership for Prevention.

The data in the report come from well-recognized outside sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Medical Association, FBI, Dartmouth Atlas Project, U.S. Department of Education and Census Bureau. The report is reviewed and overseen by a Scientific Advisory Committee, with members from leading academic institutions, government agencies and the private sector. A key America’s Health Rankings data source – a telephone survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that accounts for seven of the 24 measures in the index – was changed this year to include cell phone-only households, as well as a household-weighting process that better reflects increasing diversity within states. As a result of the new techniques, the rates for the following seven measures cannot be compared to previous years: smoking, obesity, binge drinking, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, poor physical health days and poor mental health days.

America’s Health Rankings® is the longest-running report of its kind. For 23 years, the Rankings has provided an analysis of national health on a state-by-state basis by evaluating a historical and comprehensive set of health, environmental and socioeconomic data to determine national health benchmarks and state rankings. The Rankings employs a unique methodology, developed and annually reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Committee of leading public health scholars. For more information, visit www.americashealthrankings.org.

About United Health Foundation

Guided by a passion to help people live healthier lives, United Health Foundation provides helpful information to support decisions that lead to better health outcomes and healthier communities. The Foundation also supports activities that expand access to quality health care services for those in challenging circumstances and partners with others to improve the well-being of communities. After its establishment by UnitedHealth Group [NYSE: UNH] in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation, the Foundation has committed more than $200 million to improve health and health care. For additional information, please visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.

Click here for more information.

Partnership’s Jennifer Jenson Contributes Expertise to New IOM Report

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 09:26:00 GMT

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released a new consensus report that tackles the difficult question of how to value community-based prevention policies and wellness strategies. Jennifer Jenson, Managing Senior Fellow at Partnership for Prevention, served on the committee that developed the report.

In An Integrated Framework for Assessing the Value of Community-Based Prevention, the IOM proposes a new framework for thinking about and measuring the value of community prevention. This framework stresses the importance of taking a comprehensive view when accounting for the benefits and harms of community interventions. In practice, that means accounting not just for health effects such as changes in disease, mortality, and quality of life, but also for the non-health impact of prevention activities on community well-being and community process. It also means measuring the resource cost of community interventions and comparing this cost with benefits and harms. The ultimate goal is helping communities and other decision-makers determine which prevention activities and interventions are worthwhile and best-suited to particular communities.

Ms. Jenson was named to the committee because of her experience valuing prevention in two different contexts: as director of Partnership for Prevention’s National Commission on Prevention Priorities (NCPP), and as an analyst at the Congressional Budget Office.

Click here for more information.

National Chlamydia Coalition Launches New Website

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:04:00 GMT

The National Chlamydia Coalition (NCC) is happy to announce the launch of a new and improved NCC web site (www.ncc.prevent.org). The site features an easier-to-use layout and is a go-to place for resources to promote chlamydia screening and prevention. Highlights include:

• Why Screen for Chlamydia?—a new edition of the NCC’s short implementation guide to help healthcare providers improve chlamydia screening

• Committee Products—a collection of papers, briefs, expert commentaries, and other products produced by the NCC’s committees on Adolescent Confidentiality, Provider Education, Public Awareness , and Research Translation.

• Chlamydia and STD Resources for Healthcare Providers—a collection of resources for providers, including learning materials and CMEs, teaching and clinical presentation materials, patient education materials, and clinical practice tools.

You will also find on the new site a refined and improved Chlamydia Resource Exchange (CRE). The NCC developed the CRE as a free web-based resource library providing centralized access to multi-media public awareness and education materials on sexual health issues, including chlamydia, HIV/AIDS, and other STDs. You can search for, view and download customizable public awareness and educational materials, or upload your own resources to share in a matter of minutes. The search and upload processes have both been completely streamlined and are now even easier to use.

Please check out the new NCC website and CRE at www.ncc.prevent.org and spread the word about these great new resources.

Click here for more information.

New Report on Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco Cessation

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:14:00 GMT

Why should states help Medicaid recipients quit smoking? What treatments should Medicaid cover? How should a tobacco cessation benefit be implemented in Medicaid? How does the Affordable Care Act change health care coverage? A new advocacy tool by Partnership for Prevention and the American Lung Association, Save Lives and Money: Help People on Medicaid Quit Tobacco, 2012, provides answers.

Substantial evidence supports both an increase in positive health outcomes and a high return on investment for comprehensive tobacco cessation treatment. The report spotlights six states that are leading the way in offering comprehensive tobacco cessation benefits to Medicaid recipients, along with coverage information for all 50 states. Read the report to see where your state ranks in offering tobacco cessation treatments to Medicaid recipients and how it compares to other states. States must increase their efforts in getting Medicaid recipients the help they need to quit tobacco - saving lives and money.

Click here for more information.

Richland to Step Down, Zauche to Step Up

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 08:32:00 GMT

Jud Richland, Partnership for Prevention’s President, has announced that he will be leaving Partnership. David Zauche, the director of Partnership’s ActionToQuit program, will serve as Interim Director. Zauche is one of the nation’s leading tobacco control advocates. Before joining Partnership in 2009, he worked for the American Cancer Society for nearly 30 years leading a wide variety of tobacco control and cancer prevention activities.

Richland has been Partnership’s President since January 2011 and also served as President from 1995-1998. Partnership’s Board and staff wish Jud the best and thank him for his service to the organization. Richland’s resignation letter can be viewed here.

Click here for more information.

Experts Say Hospitals Need to Prioritize Joint Commission Tobacco Measure Set

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:20:00 GMT

A perspective article published in the March 2012 issue of New England Journal of Medicine makes the case that hospitals need to prioritize implementation of the Joint Commission Tobacco Measure Set. This article adds to the evidence base that screening all patients for tobacco use and offering treatment and follow-up to those who use tobacco is both good policy and practice. The authors write that it is both a “medical and moral imperative” that hospitals make a commitment to help their patients who use tobacco to quit.

Partnership for Prevention provided the funding for the Joint Commission to develop the tobacco measure set. Last year, Partnership created the guide “Helping Patients Quit,” which provides detailed information about how the Joint Commission Tobacco Measure Set can be implemented in the hospital setting. Case studies and sample resources are also included.

Click here for more information.

New Case Studies Highlight Policy Changes to Increase Tobacco Cessation

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:18:00 GMT

Partnership for Prevention has released a new resource for tobacco control leaders, advocates, and policy makers. “State Tobacco Cessation Policy – ActionToQuit Case Studies 2012” is a product of the ActionToQuit State Policy Program. The guide details the actions of several states that are pursuing policy changes that expand access to tobacco cessation treatment and increase utilization of proven interventions. These efforts involve collaboration with health systems, businesses, health plans, quitlines, and state legislatures. The guide also highlights successes and challenges, and describes lessons learned from each state’s experience. Partnership hopes these case studies will help others in their efforts to seek policy solutions to advance tobacco cessation.

About the state grant program
Partnership for Prevention’s grant program enabled the development of state affiliations and strategic activities to help states make tobacco cessation a priority. Each funded state was charged with three tasks - develop a state alliance for tobacco cessation, sponsor a state summit for leaders and advocates, and craft a state action plan for tobacco cessation. Beyond these requirements, states had the latitude to develop objectives and choose strategic partners that best addressed their needs. Six state alliances were funded in 2010 and three more states were added in 2011. Learn more at http://www.actiontoquit.org.

Click here for more information.

Partnership’s Board Chair in New HBO Documentary

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:16:00 GMT

Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, chair of Partnership for Prevention’s board of directors, will appear in an HBO series of documentaries, The Weight of the Nation. The films are part of a national campaign to highlight the devastating effects of obesity on Americans’ health and our health care system. HBO will air the documentaries Monday, May 14 starting at 8:00 p.m. (ET), and Tuesday, May 15 starting at 8:00 p.m.(ET). A 3-part series for families on childhood obesity will air Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. (ET). HBO and the Institute of Medicine collaborated to create the films, in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For more information, visit http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com
Click here for more information.

Partnership Co-Founder and Longtime Board Chair Makes Extraordinary Contribution to UCLA School of Public Health

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:09:00 GMT

For immediate release

Washington DC (February 16, 2012) - The UCLA School of Public Health announced today that it has received a gift valued at $50 million from Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Partnership for Prevention’s immediate past Board of Directors chairman. Dr. Fielding is the director of public health for Los Angeles County and one of the world’s leaders in public health and prevention. The gift ensures the long-term financial health of the newly renamed UCLA Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health.

According to Partnership’s president, Jud Richland, “Dr. Fielding’s contribution to UCLA is certainly stunning. For those who know Jonathan, though, that he would make such a gift is entirely consistent with his spectacular generosity and his passion for public health.”
Click here for more information.

New Study Finds that Tobacco Cessation Benefit Can Save Medicaid Money

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:51:00 GMT

Media Contacts:
Anne Banner, GW
202-994-2261
abanner@gwumc.edu

David Zauche, Partnership for Prevention
202-375-7807
DZauche@prevent.org

WASHINGTON (Jan. 9, 2012)--New research by the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services indicates that including comprehensive tobacco cessation benefits in Medicaid insurance coverage can result in substantial savings for Medicaid programs. The study, titled “The Return on Investment of a Medicaid Tobacco Cessation Program in Massachusetts,” published by PLoS ONE, a leading “open access” health journal, found that every dollar spent in program costs resulted in $3.12 program savings, which represents a $2.12 net return on investment. The research shows that investing in smoking cessation programs can result in lower levels of smoking, which in turn lead to reductions in hospital admissions for heart related problems and significant savings for Medicaid. The financial support for the research came from Partnership for Prevention.

The research estimated the costs of tobacco cessation programs compared to the savings that Medicaid will realize due to fewer inpatient hospital visits for heart attacks and related cardiovascular conditions. Researchers used data from the 2002-2008 Medical Expenditure Survey and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Surveys to estimate the cost of hospital inpatient admissions for smokers covered by Medicaid. A smoking cessation program in Massachusetts, which offered a wide range of smoking cessation medications, as well as individual and group counseling for Medicaid recipients, proved to be successful and was estimated to have saved an average of $388 per user per year.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) will add millions of new Medicaid recipients in 2014. Tobacco cessation services in Medicaid could soon be offered to more low-income individuals that smoke. Researchers concluded that despite the Medicaid budgetary shortfalls faced by state and federal governments, a comprehensive tobacco cessation program for Medicaid enrollees is an evidence-based policy strategy which should improve public health and reduce health care expenditures.

A policy paper is also available at www.actiontoquit.org.

Click here for more information.

United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings® Finds Preventable Chronic Disease on the Rise

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:47:00 GMT

Media Contacts:
Jane Pennington
(952) 945-7508
jane.m.pennington@uhc.com

Lauren Mihajlov
(952) 936-3068
lauren_mihajlov@uhc.com

MINNETONKA, Minn. (Dec. 6, 2011) – United Health Foundation’s 2011 America’s Heath Rankings® finds that troubling increases in obesity, diabetes and children in poverty are offsetting improvements in smoking cessation, preventable hospitalizations and cardiovascular deaths. The report finds that the country’s overall health did not improve between 2010 and 2011 – a drop from the 0.5 percent average annual rate of improvement between 2000 and 2010 and the 1.6 percent average annual rate of improvement seen in the 1990s.

State Rankings: Vermont Still on Top
For the fifth year in a row, Vermont is the nation’s healthiest state. States that showed the most substantial improvement include New York and New Jersey, both moving up six places, largely because of improvements made in smoking cessation. Idaho and Alaska showed the most downward movement. Idaho dropped 10 spots, from number nine to 19 in this year’s Rankings, and Alaska dropped five places.

To see the Rankings in full, visit: www.americashealthrankings.org.

“Where people live matters. Every state can make improvements to ensure healthier quality of lives for their residents,” said Reed Tuckson, M.D., United Health Foundation board member and executive vice president and chief of medical affairs, UnitedHealth Group. “In the history of the Rankings, we have seen many examples of stakeholders coming together to improve their standing. States such as Tennessee and Maine – which made explicit efforts to improve their rankings – have shown us that improved public health is achievable but must be tackled in a concerted and aggressive way.”

“The Rankings provides comprehensive data states can use to develop prevention solutions and health-improvement plans – empowering their residents to live long, healthy and productive lives,” said Jud Richland, M.P.H., president and CEO of Partnership for Prevention.

This year’s Rankings, which offers a state-by-state snapshot of population health based on 23 measures, includes several positive nationwide trends:

·      Smoking cessation: 17.3 percent of the population smoked in 2011, down from 17.9 percent in 2010 – a 3.4 percent decline since 2010; a 25.4 percent decline since 2001.

·      Preventable hospitalizations: 68.2 preventable hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare enrollees in 2011, down from 70.6 preventable hospitalizations in 2010 – a 3.4 percent decline since 2010; a 17.3 percent decline since 2001.

·      Cardiovascular deaths: 270.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2011, down from 278.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2010 – a 2.8 percent decline since 2010; a 22.2 percent decline since 2001.

These improvements were offset by troubling increases in:

·         Obesity: 27.5 percent of the adult population in 2011, up from 26.9 percent of the adult population in 2010 – a 2.2 percent increase since 2010; a 37.5 percent increase since 2001; 2011 is the first year when no state had an obesity prevalence under 20 percent.

·         Diabetes: 8.7 percent in 2011, up from 8.3 percent in 2010 – a 4.8 percent increase since 2010; a 42.6 percent increase since 2001.

·         Children in poverty: 21.5 percent in 2011, up from 20.7 percent in 2010 – a 3.9 percent increase since 2010; a 33.5 percent increase since 2001.

The fact that the country did not improve in overall health status means there was a balance between improvements and detriments across all 23 measures. A compelling example of this stagnation is the improvement in the number of smokers being offset by worsening rates of obesity: the Rankings found that, for every person who quit smoking in 2011, another person became obese.

“While this year’s Rankings shows some important improvements, we also see some very alarming trends – particularly diabetes and obesity – that, left unchecked, will put further strain on our country’s already strained health care resources,” said Dr. Tuckson. “At a time when the nation, states and individual families are grappling with tightening budgets and growing health care expenses, this year’s Rankings sends a loud wakeup call that the burden of preventable chronic disease will continue to get worse unless we take urgent action.

“Broad collaboration is the only path to health and financial progress. Government, the private sector, philanthropy and community-based organizations all need to join in a data-driven process to determine and address priorities,” Dr. Tuckson added.

“Addressing the leading causes of these largely preventable diseases is essential if we are going to improve the nation’s health,” said Georges C. Benjamin, M.D., executive director of the American Public Health Association. “America’s Health Rankings gives us a tool to gauge where we are and where we need to go, and the numbers should drive us to action.”

In response to these urgent challenges, United Health Foundation is launching an interactive “Take Action for Change” campaign to incent Americans to adopt healthier habits. “Take Action for Change” is an innovative campaign that inspires people to adopt healthier behaviors. For every day someone pledges an “act of health” on the America’s Health Rankings Facebook page, United Health Foundation will make a $0.25 donation – up to a total of $50,000 – to nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the nation’s health. Visitors to the Facebook page will be able to upload their own “acts of health” and vote for which nonprofit organization will receive the $0.25 donation.

The American Cancer Society, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and YMCA are partnering with United Health Foundation on this initiative. More information can be found at www.facebook.com/AmericasHealthRankings.

Measures of Health: Alarming Signs of the Times
Even though smoking prevalence has reached a 22-year low, continued efforts against smoking, obesity and diabetes are critical to tackling many of the nation’s health challenges.

Smoking
Smoking has been one of the biggest health battles for decades. In the past year, the prevalence of smoking decreased 3.4 percent, from 17.9 percent to 17.3 percent of the adult population, the lowest in 22 years (from a high of 29.5 percent in 1990). But tobacco use is still estimated to be responsible for one out of five deaths annually (approximately 443,000 per year).

Obesity
According to this year’s report, obesity has increased 137 percent, from 11.6 percent of the adult population in 1990 to 27.5 percent in 2011. This means that today, more than one in four American adults – or a total of 65 million – is considered obese. Obesity continues to be one of the fastest-growing health issues in the nation, and America is spending $147 billion in direct health care costs associated with poor diet and physical inactivity.

Diabetes
In 2011, 8.7 percent of American adults, amounting to more than 20 million people, have been told by a physician that they have diabetes, which is almost double the 4.4 percent prevalence seen in 1996. A recent study from the CDC estimates that the number of Americans with diabetes will range from one in three to one in five by 2050. This means a large number of people are either at risk for diabetes or are unaware they have the disease and are not being properly managed medically.

A 2010 report from the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization also indicates that if current trends continue, diabetes and prediabetes will account for approximately 10 percent of total health care spending by 2020 at an annual cost of almost $500 billion – up from an estimated $208 billion this year.

About America’s Health Rankings®
America’s Health Rankings is an annual comprehensive assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis. It is published jointly by United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention.

The data in the report come from well-recognized outside sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Medical Association, FBI, Dartmouth Atlas Project, U.S. Department of Education and Census Bureau. The report is reviewed and overseen by a Scientific Advisory Committee, with members from leading academic institutions, government agencies and the private sector.

America’s Health Rankings is the longest-running report of its kind. For 22 years, the Rankings has provided an analysis of national health on a state-by-state basis by evaluating a historical and comprehensive set of health, environmental and socioeconomic data to determine national health benchmarks and state rankings. The Rankings employs a unique methodology, developed and annually reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Committee of leading public health scholars. For more information, visit www.americashealthrankings.org.

About the United Health Foundation
Guided by a passion to help people live healthier lives, United Health Foundation provides helpful information to support decisions that lead to better health outcomes and healthier communities. The Foundation also supports activities that expand access to quality health care services for those in challenging circumstances and partners with others to improve the well-being of communities. After its establishment by UnitedHealth Group [NYSE: UNH] in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation, the Foundation has committed more than $193 million to improve health and health care. For additional information, please visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.

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Click here for more information.

Partnership's ActionToQuit Releases New Guide for Hospitals

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:28:00 GMT

November 2, 2011 - Partnership for Prevention’s ActionToQuit initiative has released “Helping Patients Quit,” a guide for hospital leaders and care providers to use to implement a comprehensive tobacco cessation program. Hospitals have a critical role in decreasing the lives lost to tobacco in the United States. Screening all patients for tobacco use and offering treatment and follow-up to those who use tobacco is both good policy and practice.

The Joint Commission has provided national leadership by developing new tobacco cessation performance measures and, as a result, many hospitals will make tobacco a priority. Since the hospitalized tobacco user, at least temporarily, is in a tobacco-free environment, this is an ideal time and place to intervene. Additionally, patients may be more motivated to quit during their hospital stay than at any other time because their hospitalization may have been caused or made worse by tobacco use. Hospital leaders and practitioners can use “Helping Patients Quit” to develop a tobacco cessation screening and treatment program for their facility and assist all patients who use tobacco to successfully quit.

Click here for more information.

CMS Adds New Cardiovascular Prevention Benefit Based on Partnership’s Research

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:28:00 GMT

November 14, 2011 - The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) issued the final decision memo for the National Coverage Analysis (NCA) on intensive behavioral therapy for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Partnership for Prevention and its Council on Aspirin for Health and Prevention (CAHP) petitioned CMS to cover aspirin counseling for Medicare beneficiaries. As previously reported in August, CMS took the advice, expertise, and research from Partnership’s request to develop the benefit. One major difference from the proposed decision memo is that Medicare will now cover one face-to-face CVD risk reduction visit every year, instead of every two years, that includes intensive behavioral therapy conducted in a primary care setting.

The therapy includes counseling for aspirin use and healthy diet using the Five A’s (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange) and consists of the following elements:

• encouraging aspirin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease when the benefits outweigh the risks for men age 45-79 years and women 55-79 years;

• screening for high blood pressure in adults age 18 years and older; and

• providing intensive behavioral counseling to promote a healthy diet for adults with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, advancing age and other known risk factors for cardiovascular and diet-related chronic disease.

The CVD risk reduction visit could dramatically increase the number of patients that receive counseling and engage in shared decision-making about appropriate aspirin use. The new benefit contributes to the new Million Hearts initiative, a joint effort by CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in partnership with other HHS agencies, communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, and private sector partners across the country. The Million Hearts campaign aims to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in the next five years. Partnership has joined the initiative and looks forward to continuing to contribute to its work.

Click here for more information.

Partnership Releases New Leading by Example Report

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:28:00 GMT

December 1, 2011 - Partnership for Prevention has released Leading by Example: Creating a Corporate Health Strategy—The Kansas City Collaborative Experience, a report that highlights a worksite health promotion initiative sponsored by the Mid-America Coalition on Health Care (MACHC), the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH), and Pfizer Inc. This document describes the culmination of three years of work by 16 diverse employers headquartered in the Kansas City Metro area—the Kansas City Collaborative (KC2).The Collaborative used existing data to support corporate health strategies and drive decision-making around workforce health and wellness, promoting prevention, eliminating barriers to healthy behaviors and encouraging use of evidence-based health care. “Real world” examples from 13 of the participating employers illustrate the processes and practices they used within their organizations.

Since its inception, Partnership for Prevention’s Leading by Example initiative (LBE) has been a highly successful peer-to-peer communications campaign targeted to CEOs of organizations of all sizes on the value of worksite health promotion. CEOs who have incorporated new, successful approach¬es to employee health and productivity share their experiences and knowledge with other CEOs and business leaders.

Partnership for Prevention, MACHC, NBCH and Pfizer are proud to have jointly developed this guide to be a powerful tool for companies and public health entities invested in the health of their organizations and communities. We encourage you to use the information and case studies in this publication, and adopt the strategies that support health initiatives within your environment and work setting.

Click here for more information.

Partnership and Healthways Join Forces to Advance Well-Being Policies

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:33:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 2, 2011
Contact: Jason Spangler, MD
Phone: 202-375-7819
E-mail: jspangler@prevent.org

Partnership for Prevention announced today that it has formed a partnership with Healthways, Inc. to evaluate and promote policies that improve health and well-being. Partnership is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing national health promotion and disease prevention policies. Healthways is a leading provider of specialized, comprehensive solutions to help millions of people maintain or improve their health and well-being and, as a result, reduce overall costs.

The joint policy assessment and development initiative will build on the groundbreaking Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index®, the first-ever daily assessment of U.S. residents' health and well-being. By interviewing at least 1,000 U.S. adults every day, the Well-Being Index provides real-time measurement and insights needed to improve health, increase productivity, and lower healthcare costs.

“In Healthways, we have found a unique organization that is genuinely committed to improving well-being of individuals, communities and countries and doing so in ways that make large-scale impact and economic sense,” said Jud Richland, President of Partnership for Prevention.

Partnership and Healthways will seek to increase understanding and support for policies and programs that increase well-being where people live, learn, work, and play. The organizations’ commitment to evidence-based policies and programs will serve as the underlying foundation for the policy assessment and development partnership.

“With Partnership for Prevention as our strategic partner, we will have keen insight into which of the many prevention measures make the most health impact and are the most cost-effective so that we can bring even more value to our customers and the communities we serve,” said Ben R. Leedle, Jr., CEO of Healthways. “Partnership for Prevention not only documents the relative value of preventive measures, they recognize the importance of engaging national corporate leaders, payers, health care delivery organizations, advocacy organizations, public health officials and government policy makers in dialog that results in large scale action,” said Leedle.

Incoming Partnership for Prevention Board Chair, Eduardo J. Sanchez, MD, MPH, said, “Partnership for Prevention has made significant inroads in establishing the value and shaping policy related to our country’s investment in prevention. We are excited to collaborate with Healthways, which is nationally-recognized for delivering cost-effective prevention and well-being improvement solutions for payers, employers, communities and governments. Now more than ever, our country needs to combine the best thinking, hard work and resources of the public and private sectors. Partnership for Prevention and Healthways have both been leaders in this regard and now we’ll join forces and work together.”

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About Partnership for Prevention

Partnership for Prevention is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to create a “prevention culture” in America, where the prevention of disease and the promotion of health, based on the best scientific evidence, is the first priority for policy makers, decision-makers and practitioners who can make a difference in this area. Partnership adheres to high standards of scientific evidence to formulate the case for clinical and population-based health promotion and disease prevention. Partnership’s members include businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies working to make evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion a national priority. For more information, please visit http://www.prevent.org.

About Healthways

Healthways is the leading provider of specialized, comprehensive solutions to help millions of people maintain or improve their health and well-being and, as a result, reduce overall costs. Healthways' solutions are designed to keep healthy people healthy, reduce health-related risks and optimize care for those with chronic illness. Healthways’ proven, evidence-based programs provide highly specific and personalized interventions for each individual in a population, irrespective of age or health status, and are delivered to consumers by phone, mail, internet and face-to-face interactions, both domestically and internationally. Healthways also provides a national, fully accredited complementary and alternative Health Provider Network, offering convenient access to individuals who seek health services outside of, and in conjunction with, the traditional healthcare system. For more information, please visit http://www.healthways.com.

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Partnership for Prevention Awarded Cooperative Agreement from CDC

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:44:00 GMT

September 22, 2011 - Partnership for Prevention is pleased to announce the award of a new, five-year cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to convene a coalition of national organizations whose ultimate aim is to prevent STDs, HIV, teen pregnancy, viral hepatitis, partner violence and their resultant consequences. The coalition will focus on reaching the general public, with special outreach to populations at high risk. During the first year of the project, activities will center on strategic planning and analysis.

Partnership has established a Leadership Team that includes Partnership’s National Chlamydia Coalition, National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, Project Inform (HIV/AIDS), and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year there are an estimated 19 million new STD infections,ⁱ approximately 56,300 Americans are diagnosed with HIVⁱⁱ and 410,000 females age 15-19 give birth.ⁱⁱⁱ Just beyond these data lay issues related to medical care and public awareness which suggest a renewed, comprehensive approach to prevention is in order.

To sign up to receive future communications about this project, please send your name and email address to newcoalition@prevent.org.

Partnership for Prevention is a nonpartisan organization of business, nonprofit and government leaders working to make evidence based disease prevention and health promotion a national priority.

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ⁱCDC. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2009.
ⁱⁱCDC, HIV Surveillanc Report: Diagnoses of HIV Infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2009.
ⁱⁱⁱCDC. MMWR, April 8, 2011. 60 (13):414-20.

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Partnership’s ActionToQuit Releases Evaluation Results from State Summits

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:07:00 GMT

August 18, 2011 - Partnership for Prevention published a report summarizing the data from the ActionToQuit State Grant Program’s baseline alliance survey. Through Partnership’s ActionToQuit initiative, states are funded to form alliances to implement innovative strategies to increase access to tobacco cessation treatments. Eleven state alliances held summit meetings from September 2010 to March 2011. “State Tobacco Cessation Alliance Summits: ActionToQuit Summit Survey Report” reviews the online survey each registrant of the state tobacco cessation alliance summits received. The ActionToQuit State Summit Survey assessed participants’ social norms about tobacco cessation services, the importance of the issue, priorities for action, barriers to improvement, intent to serve as advocates for cessation services, self-efficacy as advocates, and perceptions of their state alliance to serve as advocates for enhanced services. Results showed broad agreement among respondents. Nearly all respondents thought that public and private health plans should offer free/low cost cessation benefits to members.
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CMS Uses Partnership’s Research in Analysis

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:38:00 GMT

August 11, 2011 - The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) has released the results of a National Coverage Analysis (NCA) on intensive behavioral therapy for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Partnership for Prevention and its Council on Aspirin for Health and Prevention (CAHP) submitted a National Coverage Request (NCD) that recommended coverage of aspirin counseling for Medicare beneficiaries. CMS took the advice, expertise, and research from Partnership’s NCD request and has proposed to cover one face-to-face CVD risk reduction visit every two years that includes intensive behavioral therapy conducted in a primary care setting. CMS specifically acknowledged the contributions of the authors, Dr. Randall Stafford and Dr. Veronica Yank, in designing the elements of an aspirin counseling visit.

The therapy includes counseling for aspirin use and healthy diet using the Five A’s (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange) and consists of the following elements:

encouraging aspirin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease when the benefits outweigh the risks for men age 45-79 years and women 55-79 years;
screening for high blood pressure in adults age 18 years and older; and
providing intensive behavioral counseling to promote a healthy diet for adults with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, advancing age and other known risk factors for cardiovascular and diet-related chronic disease.

The CVD reduction visit could dramatically increase the number of patients that receive counseling and engage in shared decision-making about appropriate aspirin use. In addition, Partnership anticipates that HHS will use the visit as a template for private insurers to cover these USPSTF A- and B-grade services. CMS is accepting public comments until September 9th, and will release a final decision in November 2011.
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Partnership Releases Report on Worksite Flu Vaccine Programs

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:51:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date 8-10-11
Contact: Jason Spangler
Ph: 202-833-0009
Email: jspangler@prevent.org

                        New Report: Worksite Flu Vaccine Programs Can Save Businesses Money

Washington DC – Partnership for Prevention today released a report that makes the business case for worksite influenza vaccination programs and outlines actions employers can take for getting such a program up and running. “Give Productivity a Shot in the Arm: How Influenza Immunization Can Enhance Your Bottom Line” highlights how worksite vaccination programs can improve employee health, increase productivity, and boost national vaccination rates.

Influenza takes a heavy toll on workplaces. Nationally, the flu costs employers billions of dollars in lost earnings. In addition to needing time off, sick workers that come into the office are less productive and can spread their illness to others. The flu vaccine is a safe, effective, and affordable way for employers to keep their employees healthy and productive.

“Employers can help to keep their workers healthy by offering flu vaccines on-site. We applaud the companies that understand how important flu vaccinations are to creating a culture of health at the workplace. This new publication offers step-by-step guidance that other companies can use to do the same,” said Jud Richland, President of Partnership for Prevention.

In this report, employers will find strategies and tools for starting an on-site flu vaccination program or increasing employee participation in an existing one. Many employers already offer flu shots but few workers take advantage of the opportunity. The guide also includes best practices, supported by research and experience, and case studies of successful programs.

The publication was produced with support from Sanofi Pasteur. It is available at www.prevent.org/flu.

Partnership for Prevention is a nonpartisan organization of business, nonprofit and government leaders working to make evidence based disease prevention and health promotion a national priority.
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Sanchez to Become New Board Chair of Partnership for Prevention

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:20:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alyson Kristensen
202-833-0009
akristensen@prevent.org

Washington, DC (July 25, 2011)—Partnership for Prevention, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to disease prevention and health promotion, announced the election of Dr. Eduardo Sanchez as the new Chair of the Board of Directors. Dr. Sanchez will officially assume the role in December 2011, when Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, will step down after serving as Chair since 2002.

Dr. Sanchez currently serves as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. Previously, he was the Director of the Institute for Health Policy at The University of Texas School of Public Health. Dr. Sanchez served as Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services from 2004-2006 and the Texas Department of Health from 2001-2004.

According to Dr. Sanchez, “Long-term solutions to improve our nation’s health system will only come when we harness the power of prevention. Partnership for Prevention is perfectly situated to help us figure out how to get the most bang for our prevention investment and then to move the policy agenda forward.”

From 1992 to 2001, Dr. Sanchez practiced family medicine in Austin, Texas. During that time, from 1994 to 1998, he served as the city/county health officer and Chief Medical Officer for the Austin-Travis County Health and Human Services Department.

Dr. Sanchez chairs Partnership’s National Commission on Prevention Priorities and the Advisory Committee to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He chaired the Institute of Medicine Committee on Childhood Obesity Prevention Actions for Local Governments, and he co-chaired the National Governors’ Association Center for Best Practices Shaping a Healthier Generation Advisory Council. He is currently a member of the IOM Standing Committee on Childhood Obesity and the Committee on Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention.

“Dr. Sanchez is an energetic and visionary leader in prevention,” said Jud Richland, President and CEO of Partnership for Prevention. “Partnership is fortunate to have him leading the charge for prevention, which can save money and improve health and well-being.”

He received his M.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and holds an M.P.H. from the UT School of Public Health. Dr. Sanchez also holds an M.S. in biomedical engineering from Duke University, and a B.S. in biomedical engineering and a B.A. in chemistry from Boston University.

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Partnership Releases New Report on Health Effects of Transportation Policies

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:17:00 GMT

July 20, 2011 – Partnership for Prevention has released a new report of transportation policy options and their health effects. Transportation and Health: Policy Interventions for Safer, Healthier People and Communities examines transportation policies in three critical areas: the environment and environmental health, community design and active transportation, and motor vehicle-related injuries and fatalities. Policymakers at all levels can use this report to inform decision-making regarding transportation.

This report adds to the growing body of evidence that “health in all policies” is an important concept. Many non-health policies impact health in some way, and those impacts should be assessed during decision-making. Transportation policies and programs can help the Nation meet many of its health goals, including increasing physical activity, reducing traffic congestion and air pollution, promoting pedestrian and bicycle safety, improving vehicle occupant safety, and reducing energy use. As the transportation reauthorization gains momentum, this report can be especially valuable to national policymakers to help them understand how funding decisions will likely impact the public’s health.

Partnership collaborated with the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTrec) at UC Berkeley, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to produce this report.

The report is available at www.prevent.org/transportation

To view the press release, click here.
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Partnership Convenes Health Professionals Roundtable Meeting

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:19:00 GMT

June 13, 2011 - On June 8th, Partnership’s Health Professionals Roundtable (HPR) held its bi-annual meeting. The meeting focused on team based approaches to delivery of preventive care services, and a white paper on financial incentives for providers. Speakers included Dr. Seiji Hayashi, CMO, Bureau of Primary Care, Health Resources and Services Administration; Dr. Chesley Richards, Director of the Office of Prevention Through Healthcare at CDC; David Zauche, Managing Senior Fellow and Senior Program Officer, Partnership for Prevention; and Dr. Mark Fendrick, co-director for the Center for Value-Based Insurance Design at the University of Michigan.

HPR members, who represent the leading primary care professional organizations, discussed the components of a fully functional medical team, including attributes relating to quality, outcomes, and payment structure. The HPR also continued to work collaboratively on two action items, immunization and tobacco cessation.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the HPR reviewed the outline for a white paper on financial incentives for providers with the author, Dr. Fendrick. HPR members will submit comments, and a draft is expected to be discussed at the Fall 2011 meeting.

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NCC Co-Sponsors Webinar to Increase Chlamydia Screening

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:03:00 GMT

National Chlamydia Coalition and NIHCM Foundation Webinar:
Opportunities for Health Plans to Improve Chlamydia Screening Rates

June 9, 2011 - The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has the potential to improve identification and treatment of chlamydia infections due to provisions that expand access to coverage, without cost-sharing, for selected preventive services, including chlamydia screening. To explore how health plans can support increased chlamydia screening among their members, the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation and the National Chlamydia Coalition (NCC) hosted a webinar entitled “Opportunities for Health Plans to Improve Chlamydia Screening Rates” on June 2, 2011.

The discussion highlighted the adverse reproductive outcomes linked to chlamydia infection, including infertility, and the direct medical costs associated with the infection--more than $700 million annually--as an impetus for health plans to be concerned about the low HEDIS rates for chlamydia screening. A leader from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explained that sexually active younger women aged 14-24 are three times more likely to contract chlamydia than sexually active adult women aged 25-30 and emphasized the importance of working with health plans to address patient and provider barriers to chlamydia screening for this younger population. A researcher from the Colorado School of Public Health discussed how health plans with high and low rates of chlamydia screening engage in similar screening interventions and concluded that barriers to screening lie in difficulties interacting with minors and cultural and resource-based issues. The speaker stressed the importance of maintaining a consistent focus to address perceived barriers and the discomfort providers have discussing sensitive topics. A representative from BlueCross BlueShield of Texas shared that while the health plan met resistance to efforts to improve screening rates, the public health impact was significant enough that the plan launched a publicly available health and wellness website for members and providers, and the site has since gained national attention. Finally, a speaker from Molina HealthCare described a pilot project to educate members and providers about the importance of chlamydia screening that resulted in a 14 percent increase in screening rates in the program’s first year.

The webinar included the following presentations:

• Opportunities to Improve Chlamydia Screening under the Affordable Care Act, Eduardo Sanchez, MD, Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
• Chlamydia: Magnitude of the Problem & Strategies for Prevention, Gail Bolan, MD, Director, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Improving Chlamydia Screening HEDIS Rates: Strategies of High & Low Performing Health Plans, Adam Atherly, PhD, Chair, Associate Professor, Colorado School of Public Health
• Chlamydia Practice Improvement Project (CPIP), Kathryn Armstrong, Health Educator, Molina HealthCare

Please visit the NIHCM website to view an archive of the webinar, download copies of the presentations and view previous NIHCM webinars on maternal, child and adolescent health topics.
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Partnership Submits Public Comment to CMS

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:34:00 GMT

June 3, 2011

Partnership for Prevention is pleased to submit this public comment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the rule described in CMS-1518-P. This Federal Register announcement proposes changes to the Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems (IPPS) rule, which outlines payment rates for U.S. hospitals based on their reporting of quality measures.

Specifically, Partnership for Prevention is interested in payment policy related to inpatient tobacco cessation screening, treatment and follow-up. We applaud CMS for all its efforts to promote higher quality and more efficient health care. In particular, we support the inclusion of these tobacco cessation services as potential quality measures CMS is considering for hospital payment in the IPPS rule. These practices should become standard and routine in American hospitals and they are in accord with the Joint Commission’s new tobacco measure set. However, because CMS lists them only in the “future” category (Possible Future Measures and Topics) we also realize that it will likely be some years down the road before Medicare will begin to pay hospitals for implementing these quality measures. Partnership for Prevention requests that CMS bring the future to the present and include tobacco cessation services in the IPPS rule without delay.

Tobacco use imposes immense public health and financial costs on this nation. These costs are unnecessary and preventable. Tobacco is responsible for over 440,000 deaths annually in the U.S., or about one in every five. The chronic diseases produced by tobacco use lead the list of causes of death and disability in the United States and put an excessive strain on the health care system. The economic burden of tobacco use includes approximately $193 billion annually in health care costs and lost productivity. Hospitals and health care providers can play a critical role in the prevention of these staggering health, financial and emotional tolls that tobacco use takes on individuals, families, and communities.

Hospitalization is an ideal time to assist tobacco users to quit. Hospitalized tobacco users are temporarily in a tobacco-free environment and this forced abstinence can be an important start on the road to successfully quitting. Patients may be more motivated to quit during their hospital stay than at any other time because the reason for their hospitalization may have been caused or made worse by tobacco use. Additionally, hospitals have the expertise and resources to support patients interested in quitting. And if hospitalized tobacco users have a positive experience using cessation medications to manage withdrawal, they may be more likely to continue the use of such treatments after discharge in order to quit for good. For these reasons and others, hospitals have an important opportunity to serve their communities, providing quality care by encouraging and supporting their patients in tobacco cessation.

However, as Nancy Rigotti, MD writes in her article (i) “Integrating Comprehensive Tobacco Treatment into the Evolving U.S. Health Care System”:

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, contributing to unsustainable health care costs and unacceptable socioeconomic disparities in the disease burden. Clearly, treating tobacco use and dependence should be a high priority for physicians and for all those who organize, provide, and pay for health care. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Despite its recognition as a chronic disease, the availability of therapies that are among the most cost-effective in health care, and evidence-based clinical guidelines, tobacco dependence has not been treated with the respect and attention it deserves by the U.S. health care system.

In 2004, The Joint Commission implemented performance measures for the delivery of evidence-based tobacco dependence interventions to patients with a history of tobacco use and diagnoses of acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, or community-acquired pneumonia. The measures used to determine hospital compliance with this requirement included assessment of whether tobacco users discharged with these diagnoses received advice or assistance to quit during their hospital stay. Over time, hospitals’ performance on these measures improved. However, because these measures only applied to a narrow patient group and did not require hospitals to connect patients to post-discharge care, overall the intervention was not sufficient to produce the desired change. These measures have now been retired by The Joint Commission and it is our understanding that CMS will soon retire them from the Inpatient Quality Reporting Program as well. If so, this void must be filled with new, stronger tobacco cessation performance measures which apply to all inpatients, not just those will a few select diagnoses. Partnership for Prevention advocates for this.

In 2011, The Joint Commission developed a new set of performance measures to address the assessment and treatment of tobacco dependence for all hospitalized patients. This new measure set, which will be available for hospital selection in January 2012, is more comprehensive and will be of greater benefit to patients than the original 2004 measures. It is Partnership for Prevention’s hope that CMS will embrace and align with the Joint Commission’s new tobacco measure set. This should include payment through the Medicare program to those hospitals that implement these quality measures and routinely provide these services for all inpatients. From our perspective, and in light of this country’s monumental tobacco-related mortality statistics, this must happen as soon as possible. Time is of the essence.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit this public comment.

Sincerely,
Jud Richland, MPH
President, Partnership for Prevention

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i Rigotti, N. Integrating comprehensive tobacco treatment into the evolving US health care system: It’s time to act. Arch Intern Med. 2011; 171(1):53-55.

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Partnership to Study National Childhood Obesity Policies

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:03:00 GMT

May 20, 2011 - Partnership is pleased to announce that it has received a grant from Aetna Inc. to quantify the amount by which select national policies would reduce childhood obesity. The project is intended to help inform efforts by First Lady Michelle Obama to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity from its current level of 17% to 5% by 2030.

According to Jud Richland, Partnership’s President, “This project allows Partnership to do what it does best – use high-quality scientific research to identify policies to prevent the nation’s most serious health problems.”

To conduct the research, Partnership will work closely with its longtime collaborator, the HealthPartners Research Foundation (HPRF). Partnership and HPRF work closely together under the auspices of the National Commission on Prevention Priorities to assess the health impact and cost-effectiveness of clinical and community preventive services.

Aetna is one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, and disability insurance, and employee benefits
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Partnership Releases New Tobacco Case Study

Wed, 25 May 2011 16:50:00 GMT

May 16, 2011 - Partnership for Prevention recently published a state case study describing Colorado’s journey toward comprehensive tobacco cessation coverage. Entitled “A Collaborative Approach to Meeting the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations on Tobacco Cessation Screening and Intervention,” it outlines how the Colorado Tobacco Cessation and Sustainability Partnership worked closely with public and private health plans to provide coverage for tobacco treatment. As a result, the majority of Colorado smokers have access to free or low-cost evidence-based cessation services and support for the state’s QuitLine has been enhanced. Advances were made in spite of decreased state tobacco control program funding.

Leaders in many states have begun to work with health plans to discuss the provision of preventive services. As the implementation of federal health reform moves forward it is Partnership’s hope that states can benefit from Colorado’s pioneering work in advancing tobacco cessation treatment. As states and territories progress toward a more integrated approach to preventive health, the Colorado Tobacco Cessation and Sustainability Partnership model for engaging health plans to implement USPSTF recommendations for cessation coverage can be applied to other preventive health services.

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Partnership Convenes Vaccine Hesitancy Meeting

Tue, 17 May 2011 16:41:00 GMT

May 17, 2011 - On May 13th Partnership for Prevention, with support from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the Department of Health and Human Services National Vaccine Program Office, convened a meeting of multi-disciplinary experts on the growing issue of vaccine hesitancy in the United States. The purpose of the meeting, which brought together experts in public health, risk communications, creative thinking, social marketing, psychology, social media, behavioral economics, and politics, was to develop new and innovative strategies to overcome the complex issues surrounding vaccine hesitancy, especially among parents of young children.

Partnership is now working to summarize the informative and important discussions and ideas that came from the meeting and to develop an action plan for moving forward.

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NCPP Meets to Review Findings from Study to Assess Community Health Interventions

Wed, 11 May 2011 15:29:00 GMT

May 11, 2011 - Partnership for Prevention convened the National Commission on Prevention Priorities (NCPP) on May 4 to review the preliminary results of its work on community interventions to improve health. The NCPP is assessing the health impact and cost effectiveness of 15 interventions to reduce tobacco use and increase physical activity recommended by the Task Force on Community Preventive Services. This unique work will add value to the Community Guide by quantitatively estimating the potential changes in important health behaviors, as well as the impact on health outcomes, of these interventions. Such information will benefit state and local health departments, community-based organizations, employers, and many others interested in improving community health. Final results are expected to be released later this year.
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Hill Briefing Aims to Educate Policymakers about Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:02:00 GMT

On Thursday, April 28, 2011, Partnership for Prevention’s National Chlamydia Coalition (NCC) co-sponsored a Congressional briefing, entitled “Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Strengthening the Federal Response to a National Epidemic,” on Capitol Hill. The NCC, along with the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), American Social Health Association, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA), National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors, and AIDS United, sponsored the briefing in collaboration with the office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Speakers—Dr. Gail Bolan (CDC Division of STD Prevention), Dr. Peter Leone (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services), and Clare Coleman (NFPRHA)—provided an overview of the STD epidemic in the United States, as well as specifics regarding federal funding for STD prevention, Title X-funded clinics, the HIV/STD syndemic, and the disproportionate burden of STD infection in communities of color and among MSM. Slides from the briefing will be available on the NCSD website in the coming days.
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Public Health Leaders Call on NIH to Safeguard Tobacco Research

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:46:00 GMT

April 19, 2011 - An editorial in the latest issue of Tobacco Control calls on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Frances Collins to preserve the population-based, clinical, and biological tobacco research functions of the National Cancer Institute. The editorial was co-authored by Partnership President Jud Richland along with the CEOs of the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and Legacy, USA.

In November 2010, the NIH Scientific Management Review Board recommended that the NIH director consider placing much of its tobacco research in a new center focused on addiction research. In the editorial, the public health leaders caution that “moving tobacco research out of the larger, more established Institutes would create uncertainty about both future funding and the commitment of the NIH to tobacco control.”
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To Congress: Make the Health of Our Nation’s Children a Priority

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:13:00 GMT

April 19, 2011 - The American Heart Association, Partnership for Prevention, and more than 100 other national and regional organizations wrote to members of Congress urging them to support the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act of 2011 (House letter: click here, Senate letter: click here). The FIT Kids Act amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to integrate physical activity into existing school and afternoon programs.

Most US children spend the majority of their days at school, but kids often have few opportunities during the school day to be physically active. In addition to addressing childhood obesity, physical activity helps children to stay focused at school and achieve more academically.

The legislation is intended to increase children’s physical activity while they’re at school and teach habits for healthy living. It promotes quality physical education classes and also teaches parents how to support and encourage healthy living at home.
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Partnership Addresses Florida Businesses

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:34:00 GMT

April 12, 2011 - Diane Canova, Partnership’s VP of policy and programs, gave the keynote address at the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade’s third annual worksite wellness forum and awards on April 8. The program honored small, mid-sized and large South Florida companies whose wellness programs demonstrated a strong commitment to providing effective health promotion programs to their employees.

During her talk, Ms. Canova unveiled the newest Leading By Example publication: “The Value of Worksite Health Promotion to Small and Medium Sized Employers.” Three South Florida CEOs are featured, including Paul Ahr of Camillus House, Inc, David Morgan of Seitlin and Company, and Brodes Hartley of Community Health of South Florida.
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Partnership Moderates HRA Session at World Health Care Congress

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:22:00 GMT

On April 5, Partnership’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jason M. M. Spangler, moderated a session on the benefits of health risk assessments at the 3rd Annual Chronic Care Executive Summit. The Summit is part of the 2011 World Health Care Congress.

Dr. Vic Strecher, founder of HealthMedia, Inc. and Professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, opened the session by exploring the role of HRAs in leveraging the workplace to improve health by promoting greater business involvement in health promotion and disease prevention. Dr. Strecher focused on the history and significance of HRAs and concluded by describing the third generation of HRAs that will utilize social, environmental, and molecular epidemiology to enhance health promotion.

Dr. Alan Balch, Vice President of the Preventive Health Partnership—the prevention initiative of the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, and American Heart Association—continued the discussion by describing how health care reform efforts are improving wellness, specifically the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and its HRA component. Dr. Balch emphasized the vital role the HRA plays in the Wellness Visit and the need for flexibility in the design of the visit.

Dr. Paul Terry, CEO of StayWell Health Management, closed the session by examining StayWell’s experience with their HRA and how evidence from their own research demonstrates its relevance for the Medicare population, including cost implications. Dr. Terry concluded his presentation with several HRA applications for practitioners, including using HRA data to build a comprehensive set of strategies for long-term behavior change and realizing that communications and culture are more important to all levels of participation than incentives use alone.

All three speakers agreed that HRAs have a significant function in moving health care toward a greater focus on prevention and wellness. They also highlighted the fact that HRAs by themselves do not impact health outcomes, but that patient-tailored interventions are needed to improve health.

For additional information about Partnership’s work on the HRA contact Jason M.M. Spangler, MD, MPH, FACPM, Chief Medical Officer of Partnership for Prevention at jspangler@prevent.org.

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Partnership and the NCC Celebrate STD Awareness Month and the GYT: Get Yourself Tested Campaign

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:05:00 GMT

April 1, 2011 - Partnership for Prevention and the National Chlamydia Coalition are pleased to celebrate April as STD Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in two sexually active young people will get an STD by age 25. The goal of STD Awareness Month is to raise public awareness about the impact of sexually transmitted diseases and the importance of discussing sexual health with healthcare providers and sex partners.

The GYT: Get Yourself Tested campaign is a partnership between CDC, MTV, the Kaiser Family Foundation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and others that seeks to not only raise awareness, but also to encourage open dialogue about STDs among young people. The GYT website, www.gytnow.org, provides facts on STDs, protection and prevention, testing, and treatment, as well as tips for young people on talking with healthcare providers, parents and partners. The GYT website also includes resources to help healthcare providers better serve their teen and young adult patients. These provider tools include resources for talking to patients about sexual history and STD testing, training resources and materials to promote GYT in clinics and health centers.

This year, GYT includes a special focus on chlamydia, the most commonly reported STD in the United States. Through its work on the National Chlamydia Coalition (NCC), Partnership has been working since 2008 to address the continued high burden of chlamydia infection, especially among women age 25 and under. Left untreated in women, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease which in turn can cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and other health concerns.

To improve access to chlamydia and other STD resources for healthcare providers and program planners, the NCC has developed and recently launched the Chlamydia Resource Exchange (CRE). This free, web-based resource library provides centralized access to multi-media public awareness and education materials on sexual health issues, including chlamydia, HIV/AIDS, and other STDs. All of the materials can be downloaded and tailored to meet an organization’s specific needs. The CRE also allows organizations to upload and share their sexual health resources, including posters, brochures, videos, fact sheets, online applications, podcasts, and more. Explore the CRE at www.ChlamydiaResourceExchange.org.
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Partnership Commends HHS for Health and Sustainability Guidelines

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:10:00 GMT

March 24, 2011 - In a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Jud Richland, Partnership for Prevention President, voiced support for new guidelines to promote better health for federal workers through healthier food and beverage choices at federal facilities.

Secretary Sebelius, in collaboration with the General Services Administration (GSA), developed specific food, nutrition and sustainability guidelines to complement GSA procurement policies. These guidelines are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010, which provides information on nutrients and food components and includes recommendations for healthy eating.

In May 2009, President Obama directed the Office of Personal Management (OPM) to develop wellness best practices and plans for the federal workforce. GSA took the lead to improve food choices at federal facilities and, working with HHS, identified specific ways to maximize a healthier food service, including eliminating industrially produced trans fats, decreasing sodium content and allowing people to make more informed choices about what they are purchasing and eating through menu labeling.

Partnership strongly supports the actions of HHS and GSA and encourages all federal departments and facilities to utilize these new guidelines. The corporate sector may also find this guidance helpful to promote better nutrition and healthier eating among its workforce.
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Partnership to Congress: Protect the Prevention and Public Health Fund

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:10:00 GMT

March 29, 2011 - Partnership president, Jud Richland, sent a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee leadership expressing concerns about proposed legislation that may dismantle or dramatically change the new Prevention and Public Health Fund. This fund was created as part of last year’s health care reform legislation and was intended to expand clinical and community prevention.
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Partnership Recommends Improved Delivery of Preventive Services for Women

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:10:00 GMT

March 19, 2011 - Partnership called on the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Preventive Services for Women to help ensure that high value clinical preventive services provide the maximum benefit to women. Specifically, Partnership offered recommendations related to counseling about aspirin use and tobacco cessation counseling and pharmacotherapy. The lives of tens of thousands of women could be saved each year if delivery rates for these services were increased.

The IOM Committee is charged with recommending coverage for women’s preventive services beyond those already covered by the new health reform law. While the law requires private insurers to cover proven preventive services (including aspirin counseling and tobacco cessation services), the law fails to define what the services should include.

In its letter to IOM, Partnership identified specific components that should be included in the aspirin counseling session. Partnership also asked IOM to make explicit that covered tobacco cessation services should include multiple forms of counseling, including repeated and intensive counseling. Coverage should also be provided for FDA-approved cessation pharmacotherapies.

Expanding coverage for services not yet covered by the law offers the potential to improve health. Still, the greatest overall health benefit will come from increasing delivery of preventive services that have been shown to have a significant health impact.

To view Partnership’s letter, click here.
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Partnership Report Informs Newly Released CMS Interim Guidance for Health Risk Assessments

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:35:00 GMT

March 23, 2011 - On March 22, CMS released Interim Guidance for Health Risk Assessments. The guidance was submitted to CMS by CDC’s Office of Prevention Through Healthcare and was developed from the report, “Guidance on Development of Health Risk Assessment as Part of the Annual Wellness Visit for Medicare Beneficiaries – (Section 4103 of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act).”

The report was produced by Partnership and Thomson Reuters and was informed by interviews with subject matter experts, input received in response to a Federal Register Notice, insights provided by attendees at a Public Forum hosted by the CDC on February 1-2, 2011, and knowledge by the authors derived from an understanding of the literature focused on this topic. The report assisted CDC with the task of developing guidance for a health risk assessment (HRA) framework that will be used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to build a model for the HRA in the new Medicare Annual Wellness Visit as mandated by Section 4103 of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The report will lead to the development of an article on HRA guidance to be published in an upcoming issue of The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Often called “the voice of CDC,” the MMWR series is the agency’s primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information, recommendations, and reports. MMWR readership predominately consists of physicians, nurses, public health practitioners, epidemiologists and other scientists, researchers, educators, and laboratorians.

Partnership will continue to be a resource for both CDC and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with regards to HRA and prevention. Partnership will also continue to promote and advocate for prevention with Medicare, including the new AWV. For more information on Medicare coverage and the AWV, please visit the Medicare Coverage Center at http://www.cms.gov/center/coverage.asp.

For additional information about Partnership’s work on the HRA, please click here or contact Jason M.M. Spangler, MD, MPH, FACPM, Chief Medical Officer, Partnership for Prevention, jspangler@prevent.org.
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New Partnership for Prevention Report Highlights Link between Business Health and Community Health

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:18:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 14, 2011
Contact: Kathie Ruffatto, Ph: 202-375-7817
Email: kruffatto@prevent.org

Washington, DC - Demonstrating the strong business case for corporate involvement in advancing community health, Partnership for Prevention today released “Leading by Example: Creating Healthy Communities through Corporate Engagement”, which is available here. Partnership for Prevention, with support from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is proud to have developed this guide.

“Strategic business leaders at best practice organizations – such as those featured in this publication – are taking a strong leadership role in community health initiatives in tobacco control, preventive screenings and immunizations, obesity control, responsible alcohol use and physical activity. In doing so, they act as catalysts within their community by influencing not only their employees and their families to make healthier choices, but their fellow citizens and neighbors as well,” said Jud Richland, President, of Partnership for Prevention.

The Leading by Example initiative was launched by Partnership for Prevention in 2004. The first Leading by Example publication was released the following year and featured 16 CEOs and three governors. A “Call to Action” signed by four of the initial participants – along with the publication – was distributed to the CEOs, COOs and human resources vice presidents of all Fortune 500 companies, with the aim at increasing awareness among executives about employee health management and its role as a core business strategy.

The new Leading by Example publication features nineteen businesses that are reaching out to improve the health and wellness of their communities. The firms are American Express, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The Dow Chemical Company, DTE Energy, Florida Heart Research Institute, GlaxoSmithKline, Healthy UNH, INTEGRIS Health, Johnson & Johnson, Live Well Omaha, McCormick, Mid-America Coalition on Health Care, Mid-Atlantic Business Group on Health, Rapid Packaging, Rochester Business Alliance, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, State Farm Insurance Companies and University of Michigan.

Click here for more information.

Leading by Example: The Value of Worksite Health for Small to Medium Sized Employers

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:46:00 GMT

Partnership, with support from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), releases a new publication that addresses how nearly 20 small to medium-sized employers lowered barriers to creating effective worksite health programs through the active engagement of the CEO.
Click here to read more on the Leading by Example page.
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Partnership Urges House of Representatives: “Protect Vital CDC Programs”

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:23:00 GMT

In a letter to the US House of Representatives, Partnership Vice President for Programs and Policy, Diane Canova, urged that legislators protect “vital, lifesaving public health programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”

The House is currently debating amendments to HR 1, a bill that would sharply reduce funding for the CDC and other Federal programs for the remaining seven months of fiscal year 2011. The federal government is currently operating under a continuing resolution that will expire on March 4. Canova expressed concern that proposed funding reductions would endanger critical national prevention priorities including support for tobacco control, sexually transmitted disease prevention and immunization programs.

In a related matter, the White House today issued a statement of administration policy (SAP) threatening a veto of the legislation. The SAP criticized the legislation because the proposed cuts would “sharply undermine core government functions and investments key to economic growth and job creation…If the President is presented with a bill that undermines critical priorities or national security through funding levels or restrictions, contains earmarks, or curtails the drivers of long-term economic growth and job creation while continuing to burden future generations with deficits, the President will veto the bill." [emphasis added]

Canova called upon Congress to support the CDC’s prevention agenda saying “if you can’t afford the cost of prevention you can’t afford the disease.”

The House will continue to debate HR 1 and vote on amendments through Thursday. Final passage on the bill is expected Thursday in advance of plans to adjourn Friday for the President’s Day weekend. The debate over HR1 and final funding levels for FY 2011, is expected to move next week to the Senate for consideration. It is vital that every Partnership member pick up the phone and remind their two Senators that funding for public health is an investment in health that will pay dividends in lower rates of chronic disease.

“Each year the costs of treating chronic disease consume 70 percent of the US health care dollar,” Canova wrote. “Trying to save money by cutting prevention and public health programs at the CDC is a classic illustration of being “penny wise and pound foolish.”

Click here for more information.

Partnership’s Aspirin Task Force At Work

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 12:37:00 GMT

Spurs CMS to consider adding coverage of aspirin counseling for Medicare beneficiaries

February 15, 2011 - In October 2010, Partnership for Prevention’s Aspirin Task Force submitted a National Coverage Determination (NCD) request which advocated for Medicare coverage of shared decision making counseling for aspirin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The NCD process allows Medicare to add coverage of additional preventive services without Congressional approval, as mandated by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA).

As a result of the NCD, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have begun analysis for “Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease.” Through this analysis, CMS will assess counseling for aspirin along with other cardiovascular disease related USPSTF A and B rated services, specifically blood pressure measurement and healthy diet counseling for those with high cholesterol and other known cardiovascular disease and diet related risk factors.

A coverage decision memo is expected in August 2011. Currently, CMS is accepting public comments on the analysis. For more information or to submit comments, please click here.

For additional information on the Aspirin Task Force, click here.
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Obama has Kicked Smoking

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:47:00 GMT

February 8, 2011, the AP reported that First Lady Michele Obama confirmed that President Obama had been smokefree for “almost a year.” The revelation was greeted with admiration by Partnership’s ActiontoQuit tobacco cessation stakeholders who were meeting in Washington to share best practices for expanding tobacco cessation care to more Americans. Ripley Forbes, Partnership’s Government Affairs director, told the attendees that the announcement was another example of how far the nation has come from the days when FDR was seen with his iconic cigarette holder.

We know quitting smoking can be difficult and require multiple, often frustrating attempts. Being smokefree for almost a year represents a major success for any former smoker…especially a President of the United States. Quitting tobacco is great news for the individual, their family and loved ones and, when you are a prominent individual, potentially millions of smokers who are thinking about or trying to quit. As a former smoker the President represents a powerful role model of cessation success and by his example, will motivate many smokers to seek out the cessation help they to be successfully.

In a letter to the President written following the ActiontoQuit meeting, Partnership VP for Policy and Programs, Diane Canova, along with ActiontoQuit state participants, congratulated him writing “Your example and perseverance means so much to millions of Americans struggling every day to break their addiction to cigarettes and other tobacco products. We believe your experience is an important narrative that can have a profound impact helping Americans make this important commitment to good health.”

The President’s motivation slogan “Yes We Can” is more than a campaign theme. For 46 million smokers trying to quit it can become a rallying cry for good health, longer lives and reduction in tobacco related chronic disease.
Click here for more information.

Partnership Praises Senate for Supporting Health Reform and Opposing Repeal

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:37:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Statement by Jud Richland, President, Partnership for Prevention
February 3, 2011
Media Contact: Laura Diamond, Ph: 202-375-7818
Email: LDiamond@prevent.org

Partnership for Prevention Comments on the Senate Vote on the McConnell Amendment

Partnership for Prevention is pleased the Senate voted down Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell ‘s (R-Ky.) Amendment to S.223, the FAA reauthorization bill, which would have repealed the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Partnership calls upon Congress to work in a bi-partisan manner to make improvements to the ACA that build upon its existing successes such as eliminating cost sharing for life-saving, highly cost-effective clinical preventive services for millions of people who would not otherwise have this coverage.

Blood pressure screening, immunizations, mammograms and tobacco cessation are preventive services that are now, under the ACA, much more affordable and achieve the nation’s goal of providing good value for each health care dollar invested. Any effort to repeal the ACA would take us backward.

We stand ready to work with Congress to achieve the goal of transforming our high cost, low value sick care system into a low cost, high value health care system. We all want real health reform and real reform starts with prevention.

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Partnership for Prevention is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of business, non-profit and government leaders dedicated to making evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion a national priority.

Click here for more information.

President Obama Appoints Drs. Fielding and Seffrin To Advisory Group

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:57:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 26, 2011
Media Contact: Laura Diamond
Ph: 202-375-7818
Email: LDiamond@prevent.org

FIELDING AND SEFFRIN APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA TO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF ADVISORY GROUP ON PREVENTION, HEALTH PROMOTION AND INTEGRATIVE AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Dr. Fielding and Dr. Seffrin speak at Partnership’s Health Policy Symposium.
Click here for more pictures.

Washington, DC – Partnership for Prevention (Partnership) is pleased to announce that its Chairman of the Board, Jonathan Fielding, MD, MPH, MBA and its Board member, John Seffrin, PhD, have been appointed to serve as distinguished members of the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health. Authorized under the “Affordable Care Act”, the role of the Advisory Group is to assist US Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, and her National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council with recommendations for development, review and periodic revision of a national prevention, health promotion and public health strategy.

“Clearly, both Dr. Fielding and Dr. Seffrin are recognized by many of the nation’s foremost opinion leaders as authorities in public health. For more than a decade, Dr. Fielding has served as a voluntary Chairman of the Partnership Board of Directors and Dr. Seffrin has been an active officer and member of the Board for many years. These individuals have long dedicated their time to Partnership and have been instrumental in guiding our work to strengthen the prevention evidence base. As one of the principal architects of the prevention provisions in the Affordable Care Act, Partnership stands ready to advance the National Prevention Strategy that will help to create a prevention culture and translate “Health in All Policies” from rhetoric to reality,” said Jud Richland, MPH, President, Partnership for Prevention.

Jonathan E. Fielding currently serves as Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and County Health Officer, where he leads the nation’s largest county public health department and manages the county’s environmental health, communicable and chronic disease control, emergency preparedness and response, and health education initiatives, among others. Dr. Fielding is also Professor of Health Services and Pediatrics at UCLA and Vice Chair of the Los Angeles First 5 Commission, which works to improve children’s health, safety and school readiness. He previously served as Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health and as President of the American College of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Fielding is a founding member of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and Chair of the U.S. Community Preventive Services Task Force. He also chaired the Advisory Committee on the 2020 Health Objectives for the Nation. Dr. Fielding is a Board Member of the American Legacy Foundation, an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, and Editor of the Annual Review of Public Health. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Sedgwick Memorial for Distinguished Public Health and the Roemer Award for creative public health practice, both from the American Public Health Association. Dr. Fielding holds a B.A. from Williams College, an M.A. from Harvard University, an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, an M.P.H. from the Harvard School of Public Health, and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business.

John R. Seffrin is the chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. Dr. Seffrin also serves as an adjunct professor of behavioral science and health education at the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. Prior to being named the American Cancer Society’s top executive, he served at Indiana University as Professor of Health Education and Chairman of the Department of Applied Health Science. Dr. Seffrin has been active in numerous organizations, including the Advisory Committee to the Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Geneva-headquartered Union for International Cancer Control, and the Board of Independent Sector, among others. In 1999, he was selected to be a charter member of C-Change (formerly known as the National Dialogue on Cancer) Steering Committee, which was co-chaired by former President George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush. Also in the late 1990s, Dr. Seffrin served on the board of National Cancer Policy Board of the Institute of Medicine and was appointed by Senator Dianne Feinstein to co-chair the National Cancer Legislation Advisory Committee. He helped to create the National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids (now the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids), among his many collaborations and affiliations. Dr. Seffrin is the 2010 recipient of the Society for Public Health Education’s Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award. He holds a B.S. degree from Ball State University, an M.S. from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. in health education from Purdue University.

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Partnership for Prevention is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of business, non-profit and government leaders dedicated to making evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion a national priority. For more information, visit www.prevent.org.

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Partnership Calls Upon Congress to Expand Transportation Options

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:22:00 GMT

Partnership has joined with APHA, NACCHO, American Heart Association and 8 other leading health partners to urge key US Senators to write a new transportation reauthorization “that promotes public health by encouraging physical activity, reducing emissions, preventing crashes and increasing access to health care services, nutritious food and jobs.” The letter was sent to members of the Senate Environmental and Public Works and Banking Committees which have jurisdiction over transportation programming.

The coalition called for significant increases in funding for public transit and a commitment to building a 21st century transportation system to “help workers get to their jobs, let children walk and bike safely to and from school and allow low-income people, older Americans and individuals with disabilities to get where they need to go easily and safely.” Of special concern to Partnership, the letter also calls for establishing a Health Impact Assessment pilot program to help communities “determine possible health and equity effects of a proposed transportation plan, project or policy.”

Congress is expected to begin consideration of a multi-year authorization of Federal transportation funding early in 2011.

Organizations joining Partnership as co-signers of the letter include:

American Academy of Pediatrics
American Heart Association
American Lung Association
American Public Health Association
National Association of County and City Health Officials
National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity
PolicyLink
Prevention Institute
Safe States Alliance
Trust for America’s Health
Upstream Public Health

For further information about the letter or pending transportation issues affecting health and equity, please contact Ripley Forbes, Partnership’s Director of Government Affairs, at rforbes@prevent.org.
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Partnership Comments on the House Vote on H.R. 2, Repeal of the Heath Care Law

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:48:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Statement by Jud Richland, President and CEO, Partnership for Prevention
January 19, 2011
Media Contact: Laura Diamond
Ph: 202-375-7818
Email: LDiamond@prevent.org

Partnership for Prevention calls upon Congress to support health reform and to work in a bipartisan manner to improve the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We are very concerned that efforts to repeal the ACA will move us backward. Specifically, the ACA provides coverage for preventive services for many people who would not otherwise have it. The ACA eliminates cost sharing for life-saving, highly cost-effective clinical preventive services such as blood pressure screening, immunizations, mammograms, and tobacco cessation and makes preventive care much more affordable. Keeping people healthy is part of the solution. Clinical preventive services achieve the nation’s goal of providing good value for each health care dollar invested.

Partnership is also concerned that the House action could lead to the dismantling of the dedicated Prevention and Public Health Fund which over the next decade will provide $15 billion in new funding for effective state and local programs to foster healthier families and communities. Partnership for Prevention, along with other public health and wellness leaders, remains strongly committed to protecting this critical fund.

We stand ready to work with Congress to achieve the goal of transforming our high cost, low value sick care system into a low cost, high value health care system. We all want real health reform and real reform starts with prevention.

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Partnership for Prevention is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of business, non-profit and government leaders dedicated to making evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion a national priority.
Click here for more information.

Partnership Testifies before IOM Panel on Women’s Preventive Services

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:41:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2011
Media Contact: Laura Diamond
Ph: 202-375-7818
Email: LDiamond@prevent.org

In testimony before the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Preventive Services for Women, Partnership’s President, Jud Richland, called on the panel to support insurance coverage for services with proven effectiveness and to be cautious about recommending services with limited evidence of effectiveness. The Committee is charged with recommending coverage for women’s preventive services beyond those services already covered by the new health reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Richland called on the Committee to support incentives for healthcare organizations and providers who use evidence-based systems to increase delivery of clinical preventive services. The CDC-sponsored Task Force on Community Preventive Services has identified numerous evidence-based interventions that healthcare organizations can implement to increase delivery of clinical preventive services.

Richland stressed the importance of increasing delivery of high impact preventive services that are already covered under the new law. Utilization rates are under 50% for some of the highest value services, such as daily aspirin use, tobacco cessation, and colorectal cancer screening. Increasing delivery of these services would save tens of thousands of lives each year and would have a greater impact on overall health than would requiring coverage of new services of uncertain benefit.

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Partnership for Prevention is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of business, non-profit and government leaders dedicated to making evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion a national priority.
Click here for more information.

Partnership Urges Congress to Support passage of S. 3307, the “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act"

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:37:00 GMT

To read our letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, click here.
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Spangler Named Chief Medical Officer at Partnership for Prevention

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:20:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 14, 2010
Media Contact: Laura Diamond
Ph: 202-375-7818
Email: LDiamond@prevent.org

SPANGLER NAMED CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT PARTNERSHIP FOR PREVENTION

Washington, DC – Partnership for Prevention (Partnership) is pleased to announce Jason M. M. Spangler, MD, MPH, FACPM, has been named Chief Medical Officer (CMO). In this key senior leadership role, Dr. Spangler is responsible for providing medical and public health expertise on Partnership’s program activities and policy development, carrying out the organization’s strategic plan, including its policy agenda; assuring Partnership’s adherence to medical and scientific principles; and contributing to the development of staff in the areas of preventive medicine and population health. Spangler began his career with Partnership in 2007, when he joined the staff as Managing Senior Fellow and Senior Program Officer.

“I am confident that Dr. Spangler’s diverse work experience and post graduate medical and public health training in the private, non-profit, public, and academic sectors make him especially well-suited to serve in this key critical position. As the leading national organization solely dedicated to evidence-based approaches to prevention, Partnership for Prevention and in fact the entire prevention community, will benefit from Jason’s professional dedication and proven leadership,” said Robert J. Gould, PhD, President and CEO of Partnership for Prevention.

As CMO, Dr. Spangler works closely with Partnership’s first-of-its-kind Health Professionals Roundtable on Preventive Services (HPR), a group representing 1.5 million members from the leading primary care professional organizations. HPR collaborates on issues of common interest and concern in the delivery of clinical preventive services and also develops policy statements that advance preventive care recommendations.

Until Partnership established the Health Professionals Roundtable on Preventive Services (HPR) in 2004, no formal venue existed for primary care professionals to work together to identify barriers and advance the delivery of preventive services.

Additionally, through Partnership’s expert advisory group, the Aspirin Task Force, Dr. Spangler is responsible for managing the organization’s efforts to increase the appropriate use of aspirin for the primary prevention of heart attacks and strokes. He also represents Partnership with governmental bodies, regulatory bodies, and accrediting agencies and serves as an alternate delegate to the American Medical Association through the American College of Preventive Medicine.

Prior to his tenure with Partnership, Dr. Spangler was with Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals in its Public Health and Policy Group. He performed as public health lead on all clear health communication and health literacy initiatives and activities. He also managed relationships with health policy organizations and maintained and supported the group’s public health partnerships.

Spangler completed clinical training in internal medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He also completed preventive medicine training at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Spangler is a fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine. He is the recipient of the American College of Preventive Medicine Resident Award, the GlaxoSmithKline Preventive Medicine Residency Scholarship Award, and the Outstanding Volunteer Services and Department of Medicine Thomas O’Toole Awards from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Spangler received his Doctor of Medicine degree at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, his Master of Public Health degree at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

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Partnership Releases Statement on US Surgeon General's Report

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:59:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 10, 2010
Media Contact: Laura Diamond
Ph: 202-375-7818
Email: LDiamond@prevent.org

PARTNERSHIP STATEMENT ON YESTERDAY’S RELEASE OF THE REPORT BY THE US SURGEON GENERAL

Washington, DC – Partnership for Prevention (Partnership) commends the U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin for her release of the 30th tobacco-related and scientific report issued since 1964, “How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: the Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking Attributable Disease."

The 700-plus page report, produced by 64 health experts, brings irrefutable science to the public in clear, evidence-based factual terms: regardless of the product, there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke, secondhand smoke from a single cigarette can trigger a heart attack, and tobacco products are engineered by the tobacco industry to be increasingly addictive over time.

Science should drive policy. This report provides final, conclusive evidence that it is time to end the debate over smokefree air. It is time to prohibit smoking in all indoor spaces including workplaces such as restaurants, bars, and casinos. Any lesser action unnecessarily endangers the health of millions of non-smokers. And for smokers, the report provides ample incentive to quit and take advantage of the wide variety of effective cessation therapies available over the counter or by prescription.

Tobacco use is a chronic disease and it is time for Federal and state government to make tobacco cessation care available to all…it’s a matter of lives and it’s a matter of money.

In fact, in a recently released study, http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1000375, researchers from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Harvard Medical School demonstrated that expanded delivery of tobacco cessation services can save lives, improved the health among the Massachusetts’ Medicaid population and reduced the incidence of tobacco-related health care costs. The study showed “Among Massachusetts Medicaid subscribers, use of a comprehensive tobacco cessation pharmacotherapy benefit was associated with a significant decrease in claims for hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction and acute coronary heart disease…” The article concluded that “For low-income smokers, removing the barriers to the use of smoking cessation pharmacotherapy has the potential to decrease short-term utilization of hospital services.”

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Partnership for Prevention is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of business, non-profit and government leaders dedicated to making evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion a national priority.

Click here for more information.

Richland Named President and Chief Executive Officer at Partnership for Prevention

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 08:24:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 8, 2010
Media Contact: Laura Diamond
Ph: 202-375-7818
Email: LDiamond@prevent.org

RICHLAND NAMED PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT PARTNERSHIP FOR PREVENTION

Washington, DC – Partnership for Prevention (Partnership) today announced that Jud Richland, an experienced former Partnership President, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2011. Richland served as Partnership's President from 1995 to 1998 and is credited with initiating many of the organization's flagship activities, including landmark studies to prioritize clinical preventive services and national prevention policies, convening CEO roundtables to discuss strategies for improving employee health, and working with congressional leaders to establish a Congressional Prevention Caucus. He also led Partnership's efforts to develop principles for prevention-centered health reform, which helped shape the many prevention provisions in the Affordable Care Act.

According to Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Chairman of Partnership's Board of Directors, "I've worked side-by-side with Jud for many years, and I know that under his leadership, Partnership's influence on national health promotion and disease prevention policy will reach new heights. In making its decision, Partnership's Board of Directors was in the fortunate position of being able to tap a proven public health leader who is extremely well-versed in evidence based approaches to prevention."

"Partnership has a long track record of conducting objective, high-quality research on the nation's most important prevention problems and working with policy makers to develop practical solutions," said Richland. "We aim to take full advantage of this pivotal moment in history to deliver on our motto – 'shaping policies, improving health' – in moving our country toward a culture of prevention and wellness."

Following his first stint as Partnership's President, Richland served for seven years as the Executive Director of the American College of Preventive Medicine, the national professional society for physicians committed to disease prevention and health promotion. He also served as the Deputy Director and Acting Executive Director of the Public Health Foundation. Richland received his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of California at Berkeley and a master's degree in public health from George Washington University.

Robert J. Gould, PhD, is stepping down as President and CEO of Partnership effective December 31, 2010 and begins a new position as Executive Vice President in the Washington, DC office of an international communications consultancy in the New Year.

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Partnership for Prevention is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of business, non-profit and government leaders dedicated to making evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion a national priority.

Click here for more information.

America's Health Rankings® for 2010 Released

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:32:00 GMT

Contact Information:
Tyler Mason, 714-226-3530
tyler.mason@uhc.com

Jennifer Foster, 816-512-2248
jennifer.foster@fleishman.com

Twitter: @ahr_rankings
Facebook: www.facebook.com/americashealthrankings
www.americashealthrankings.org

America’s Health Rankings® Indicates Overall Healthiness Slightly Improved, but Obesity, Children in Poverty, and Diabetes Worrisome for States’ Health

Overall U.S. health improved in the past year, slightly faster than the past decade, but at a slower rate than in the 1990s
Tobacco use decreased to 21-year low, but still unacceptably high
Increase in obesity and diabetes will continue to exact health consequences
Vermont #1 again; Mississippi #50

MINNETONKA, Minn. (Dec. 7, 2010) – Welcome improvements in many areas of America’s health status are offset by continuing declines in others, according to the 2010 America’s Heath Rankings®. The nation’s overall health improved one percentage point last year, but reductions in smoking, preventable hospitalizations and infectious disease were offset by continued increases in obesity, children in poverty, and lack of health insurance. The report also shows a 19 percent increase since the 2005 Edition in the percentage of adults who had been diagnosed with diabetes. In response to these trends, United Health Foundation is establishing a program to address local health challenges.

While last year’s one percent improvement in health is better than the previous decade, it falls short of the gains seen in the 1990s. From 2000-2009, health improved just 0.5 percent per year, but in the 1990s, overall health improved 1.5 percent per year, suggesting that the nation is capable of achieving better health more rapidly than it currently is. Given the sharp escalation in health costs, the economic consequences of larger burdens of preventable chronic illness should sound an alarm for urgent action by states and local communities.

“The rate of gain, while positive, is wholly inadequate for us as a nation. We know with certainty that many people will suffer consequences of preventable disease unless we strengthen individual healthiness, community by community across America,” said Reed Tuckson, M.D., United Health Foundation board member and executive vice president and chief of medical affairs, UnitedHealth Group. “The persistent year after year increase in obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, and other risk factors combined with a still unacceptably high use of tobacco means an increased burden of chronic illness, including diabetes, with medical care costs that will be unaffordable for any state, private employer, or individual in the days to come. States are showing that we can successfully deal with health issues, but only by tackling those issues head on.”

America’s Health Rankings® is an annual comprehensive assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis. It is published jointly by United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association (APHA) and Partnership for Prevention.

The data in the report come from well-recognized outside sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Medical Association, U.S. Department of Education, and the Census Bureau. The report is reviewed and overseen by a Scientific Advisory Committee, with members from leading academic institutions, government agencies and the private sector.

State Rankings: Vermont Remains on Top; Mississippi Stays on Bottom

Partnership for Prevention’s Vice President, Diane Canova, congratulates Vermont Gov. James H. Douglass on his state’s number 1 ranking in the 2010 America’s Health.

Left to right: Alana Ward, (staff), Diane Canova, (Vice President) Governor Douglass, David Atkins, Exec Director Council of State Governments, and Ripley Forbes (staff).

Every state has its successes and every state has its challenges. Vermont tops the list of healthiest states for the last four years of published reports. Vermont has had a steady climb in the Rankings for the last twelve years from a ranking of 17th in the 1997 and 1998 Editions. Massachusetts is ranked second, an improvement from third last year. Massachusetts has ranked in the top ten for almost 20 years. New Hampshire is ranked third, followed by Connecticut and Hawaii.

Mississippi is ranked 50th, with Louisiana, Arkansas, Nevada and Oklahoma rounding out the bottom five.

Georgia has improved the most in the past year from 43rd to 36th, and Idaho (14th to 9th), Nebraska (16th to 11th) and South Carolina (46th to 41st) all improved by five rank positions. Alabama also has climbed the ladder from 48th to 45th.

“Every state can create effective solutions to many of the health challenges they face,” said Tuckson. “States can use America’s Health Rankings® to identify their state’s and other states’ strengths and use those examples to address areas that need attention in their own state. The key is action. We must continue to work toward impacting change in unhealthy behaviors and other factors that negatively impact a state.”

United Health Foundation Providing Help

The United Health Foundation believes that these health challenges can best be addressed through public-private partnerships at the state and local level. The United Health Foundation is partnering with the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) to convene business, public health, community leaders, and elected and public officials in selected communities across the U.S. to initiate data-driven health promotion and disease prevention planning. Grants will be awarded to help each community create an action plan for policy and program interventions that draw upon individual accountability, community resources and private sector expertise.

“We are energized and encouraged by United Health Foundation’s recognition and support of the important role the private sector community can play in collaborating with states to identify and address priority health problems,” said Andrew Webber, president and CEO of the National Business Coalition on Health.

United Health Foundation will also collaborate with Partnership for Prevention to identify and disseminate scientific-based public policies that can be useful for states to consider as they address their particular population health challenges.

The website, americashealthrankings.org, has been enhanced to better serve as a research tool and rich database for use by individuals, political leaders, health professionals and policy analysts.

Alarming Signs of the Times

Even though smoking prevalence has reached a 21-year low, continued progress against smoking and obesity is a critical step in successfully tackling many of the nation’s health challenges. An increase in the number of children in poverty and lack of health insurance for many Americans are also serious threats to improved health in the future.

Obesity
Obesity has increased 132 percent from 11.6 percent of the population in the 1990 Edition to 26.9 percent in the 2010 Edition; meaning today, more than one in four Americans are considered obese. Obesity continues to be one of the fastest growing health issues in our nation and America is spending billions in direct health care costs associated with poor diet and physical inactivity.

“Obesity and tobacco use are top contributors to a variety of diseases, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and other leading causes of premature death and disability,” said Georges C. Benjamin, M.D., executive director of the American Public Health Association. “We cannot avoid these critical public and personal health battles. We must work with multiple stakeholders and our public health partners to develop with comprehensive solutions to solve this problem.”

Smoking
Smoking has been one of the biggest health battles for decades. In the past year, the prevalence of smoking decreased from 18.3 percent to 17.9 percent of the adult population, the lowest in 21 years (from a high of 29.5 percent in the 1990 Edition). But tobacco use is still estimated to be responsible for one out of five deaths annually (approximately 443,000 deaths per year). Four states – Utah, California, Massachusetts and Washington – have driven their smoking rates to less than 15 percent, a goal for all states.

“As the name of our organization suggests, we work with others on prevention solutions. If states implement programs based on the best scientific evidence and individuals exercise their individual accountability, together we can prevent illness and death,” said Robert J. Gould, Ph.D., president and CEO of Partnership for Prevention.

Children in Poverty
The current economic climate also hinders the ability to maintain a healthy population. Children living in poverty are challenged by lack of access to health care, limited availability of healthy foods, constrained choices for physical activity, limited access to appropriate educational opportunities and stressful living conditions. The number of children in poverty has increased for the last four years and is now equal to the rate in the 1990 Edition. A steady increase has occurred, from 17.4 percent of children reported in the 2007 Edition to 20.7 percent of children in the 2010 Edition.

Lack of Health Insurance
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are an estimated 51 million uninsured Americans. Lack of health insurance coverage increased slightly from 15.3 percent in the 2009 Edition to 16.0 percent in the 2010 Edition, and has increased more than two full percentage points since the 2001 Edition (13.9 percent to 16.0 percent).

Diabetes
According to the report, 8.3 percent of American adults have been told by a physician that they have diabetes, which is significantly higher than it was five years ago. A recent report from the CDC estimates that the number of Americans with diabetes will range from 1 in 3 to 1 in 5 by 2050. This means a large number of people are either at risk for diabetes or are unaware they have the disease and are not being medically managed.

A recent report from the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization states that more than 50 percent of Americans could have diabetes and/or pre-diabetes by 2020 at a cost of $3.35 trillion over the next decade if current trends continue. New estimates show diabetes and pre-diabetes will account for an estimated 10 percent of total health care spending by the end of the decade at an annual cost of almost $500 billion – up from an estimated $194 billion this year.

Two Decades of Success

Examples of state success stories since the first edition in 1990:

Maryland decreased the prevalence of smoking from 29.7 percent to 15.1 percent of the population.
Louisiana decreased the percentage of children in poverty from 38.5 to 19.5 percent of persons under age 18.
Washington decreased infant mortality from 9.7 to 4.8 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Vermont decreased cardiovascular deaths from 401.7 to 241.1 per 100,000 population.

These successes indicate that change is possible for all states when there is a united front to make progress on health outcomes.

U.S. Lags Behind Other Nations on Many Health Measures

Despite spending more than any other country on health care, the United States falls behind other countries in a number of health outcome measures. The United States:

Falls behind 30 other countries in terms of a healthy life expectancy with an average of 70 years. Japan leads all countries with an expectancy of age 76.
Has the highest mortality rate from treatable conditions when compared to 19 other industrialized countries.
Is third to last in the rate of infant mortality among 37 developed nations. In 2008, the United States had seven deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to three deaths or fewer in Italy, Japan, Finland, France and Greece, among others.
Ranks 29th in homicide rates when compared to 31 other industrialized countries.

About America’s Health Rankings®
America’s Health Rankings® is the longest running report of its kind. For 21 years, the Rankings has provided an analysis of national health on a state-by-state basis by evaluating a historical and comprehensive set of health, environmental and socio-economic data to determine national health benchmarks and state rankings. The Rankings employs a unique methodology, developed and annually reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Committee of leading public health scholars. For more information, visit www.americashealthrankings.org.

About the United Health Foundation
Guided by a passion to help people live healthier lives, United Health Foundation provides helpful information to support decisions that lead to better health outcomes and healthier communities.
The Foundation also supports activities that expand access to quality health care services for those in challenging circumstances and partners with others to improve the well-being of communities. Since established by UnitedHealth Group [NYSE: UNH] in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation, the Foundation has committed more than $176 million to improve health and health care. For more information, visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.

About the American Public Health Association
The American Public Health Association is the oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world and has been working to improve public health since 1872. The Association aims to protect all Americans, their families and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. APHA represents a broad array of health professionals and others who care about their own health and the health of their communities. More information is available at www.apha.org.

About Partnership for Prevention
Partnership is a national non-profit membership organization comprised of leaders in the business community, non-profit organizations and local and state government advancing evidence-based prevention in policies and practices. The organization seeks to create a “prevention culture” in America, where the prevention of disease and the promotion of health, based on the best scientific evidence, is the first priority for policy makers, decision-makers and healthcare practitioners who can make a difference in this area. For more information, visit www.prevent.org.

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Partnership, in coordination with National Alliance on Adolescent Health and ACPM, Releases Report

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:29:00 GMT

Adolescents not receiving the clinical care they need

"Strengthening Preventive Care To Better Address Multiple Health Risks Among Adolescents," which summarizes the presentations and discussions at the American College of Preventive Medicine's Adolescent Preventive Services Institute, provides an overview of health risk behaviors among adolescents and effective clinical and community strategies to reduce them. The presentations reveal high rates of individual and co-occurring risks among adolescents and offer data showing that only 2 to 3% of adolescents at a large health plan are receiving recommended preventive care. They also show that, based on a growing body of literature, comprehensive risk assessments, behavioral counseling and brief interventions, organized office processes and team-based care, and referral to community prevention programs have the potential to reduce risks and improve adolescent health outcomes.
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Partnership President and CEO Rob Gould, PhD, Speaks at APHA's Annual Meeting

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 08:16:00 GMT

Dr. Gould joins nation's top health officials to discuss health reform implementation

Speakers include:

Ilena Arias, PhD, Principal Deputy Director, CDC and ATSDR
John Auerbach, MBA, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, U.S. Surgeon General
Georges Benjamin, MD, Executive Director, American Public Health Association
Carolyn Clancy, MD, Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Ned Calonge, MD, Colorado Department of Health and the Environment
Rob Gould, PhD, President and CEO, Partnership for Prevention
Anthony Iton, MD, JD, MPH, Senior Vice President of Healthier Communities, California Endowment
Paul Jarris, MD, MBA, Executive Director, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Howard Koh, MD, MPH, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Jeff Levi, PhD, Executive Director, Trust for America’s Health
Paul Melinkovich, MD, Director, Community Health Services at Denver Health
Carmen Nevarez, MD, MPH, President, American Public Health Association
Bobby Pestronk, MPH, Executive Director, National Association of County and City Health Officials
Richard L. Vogt, MD, Executive Director, Tri-county (Adam, Arapahoe and Douglas) Colorado Health Department
Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN, Administrator, Health Resources and Service Administration

From APHA's website:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, please contact APHA Communications at (202) 777-2509 or mediarelations@apha.org .

Thousands of Top Public Health Experts to Discuss Health Reform Implementation and Other Major Health Issues at APHA Annual Meeting, Nov. 6-10

Washington , D.C., October 6, 2010 – More than 12,000 public health professionals will meet in Denver, Colo., Nov. 6-10, to address some of nation’s major health challenges, including the next phase of health reform implementation at the American Public Health Association’s 138th Annual Meeting.

The conference will feature the nation’s foremost health experts, researchers and practitioners presenting the latest public health science and trends at nearly a thousand sessions on significant public health issues, including health reform implementation, climate change, food marketing to children and health impacts of the economic recession among other major and emerging topics.

The 2010 Annual Meeting is themed “Social Justice: A Public Health Imperative” and will also explore why certain populations bear a disproportionate burden of disease and mortality and what the public health community can do to better address the causes of these inequities.

The meeting kicks off Saturday, Nov. 6, with a groundbreaking daylong Summit on Health Reform designed to prepare and equip public health officials and agencies for effectively implementing the important provisions of the new health law and address key strategies around the next phase of implementation with a particular focus on the law’s impact on prevention, wellness and public health. The Summit will feature Howard Koh, MD, MPH, assistant secretary for health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, U.S. surgeon general; and Ileana Arias, PhD, principal deputy director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The opening session on Sunday will feature Cornel West, PhD, professor at Princeton University, and Bill Jenkins, PhD, MPH, with the University of North Carolina Institute of African American Research and formerly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he helped end the infamous Tuskegee Study.

Reporters are encouraged to register by Oct. 29, 2010. After this date, reporters must register on site at the APHA Press Office in Room 302 of the Colorado Convention Center. Information for press, including details regarding required credentials, is available at http://www.apha.org/about/news/ampressinfo/2010pressregistration.htm

The full Annual Meeting program and abstracts are available online at www.apha.org/meetings/sessions/. Final programs with session locations, along with daily highlights and other press materials, will be available on site at the APHA Press Office. All research is embargoed until the date of presentation.

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Senate Defeats Effort to Eliminate Prevention and Public Health Investment Fund

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:22:00 GMT

Media Statement
Contact: Laura Diamond, 202-375-7818

September 14, 2010, Washington, D.C. - On a procedural vote of 46 to 52, the Senate today defeated an effort to eliminate the Prevention and Public Health investment fund; one of the signature initiatives Partnership and other prevention advocates worked to include in the recently passed health reform legislation.

“We are grateful the Senate has affirmed the value of investing in evidence-based programs to help individuals and families live healthier lives. The passage of health reform represented an important compact with the American people to transform our current sick care system into a health care system that places value on keeping people healthy,” said Robert J. Gould, President and CEO of Partnership for Prevention.

The Johanns (R-NE) Amendment was offered to HR 5297, the “Small Business Jobs and Credit Act.” The amendment proposed to offset the costs of eliminating a tax code reporting requirement by eliminating funding Congress reserved to support community-based programs to reduce chronic disease rates, address health disparities and strengthen the “evidence-base for effective prevention programming.” Had the amendment passed, over $10 billion in prevention funding would have been cut from vital public health and prevention programs.

In reflecting on what he predicts will be the first of several “future raids on prevention funding” Gould also noted, “The Prevention Fund will be a tempting target for those seeking ways to fund their pet projects. Fortunately, the Senate has made clear the fund is to be protected now and in the future. They have affirmed the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin who observed centuries ago that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With chronic disease responsible for over 75% of US health care expenditures and childhood obesity at dangerous high levels, Congress wisely created the Prevention and Public Health fund to invest monies in State and local programs that will help foster healthier families, schools, and communities.”

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Health Affairs Publishes Analysis from the National Commission on Prevention Priorities

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:40:00 GMT

Study: Preventive services can save lives, billions of dollars, at little or no cost

CONTACT:
Jessica Flannigan
HealthPartners
952-883-7410
Jessica.R.Flannigan@HealthPartners.com

Brian McCue
Partnership for Prevention
202-375-7814
bmmcue@prevent.org

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Sept. 7, 2010 – Preventive health services such as daily aspirin use, tobacco cessation screening and alcohol abuse screening can potentially save 2 million lives and nearly $4 billion annually, according to a new paper produced by the National Commission on Prevention Priorities (NCPP). The NCPP is convened by the Partnership for Prevention. Four of the five lead authors perform research with HealthPartners Research Foundation.

The paper, “Greater Use Of Preventive Services In U.S. Health Care Could Save Lives At Little Or No Cost,” is published in the September issue of Health Affairs (see the full article here). Its authors analyzed the estimated cost of adopting a package of 20 proven preventive services against the savings that could be generated. They also estimated how much in health care costs would have been saved in a given year if 90 percent of the population had used those services. For 2006, the year selected, the savings were estimated at $3.7 billion.

“By quantifying the many lives saved and high cost-effectiveness of clinical preventive services, our study shows that prevention has really gone the extra mile, meeting a standard rarely met by health treatments. The new health care law appropriately makes these services available for most Americans at lower or no cost, but cost reductions alone won’t get us there. We now need health purchasers, insurers, and providers to make every effort to improve their delivery and educate the public about these life-saving preventive services,” said Robert J. Gould, PhD, President and CEO, Partnership for Prevention.

Most of the savings came from three services: tobacco cessation screening and assistance; discussing daily aspirin use; and alcohol screening with brief counseling. The authors determined that those three services plus colorectal cancer screening each would have contributed more than 100,000 years of life if 90 percent of the population had participated.

“People talk about the importance of prevention, and this study shows that a significant number of recommended clinical preventive services save lives and sometimes save money,” said Eduardo Sanchez, chair of the National Commission on Prevention Priorities. “The findings are based on a systematic analysis, and they show that different services have different value. Decision makers should use the information to help them identify and even prioritize the most health impactful and cost-effective services for improving health and reducing disparities.”

The authors of the paper from the HealthPartners Research Foundation are: Leif Solberg, MD, senior investigator and director for care improvement research; Michael Maciosek, research investigator; Thomas J. Flottemesch, research associate; and Nichol Edwards, research project manager. Ashley Coffield is the fifth author. Previously, she was a principal fellow with Partnership for Prevention.

The full paper is available on the Partnership for Prevention website, www.prevent.org.

Partnership for Prevention
Partnership for Prevention is a national non-profit membership organization comprised of leaders in the business community, non-profit organizations, and local and state government advancing evidence-based prevention in policies and practices. Founded in 1991, Partnership seeks to create a “prevention culture” in America, where the prevention of disease and the promotion of health, based on the best scientific evidence, is the first priority for policy makers, decision makers and healthcare practitioners who can make a difference in this area.

National Commission on Prevention Priorities
The National Commission on Prevention Priorities (NCPP) is an advisory body that seeks to improve the nation’s health by providing information for decision makers on high-value, evidence-based preventive services. Established by Partnership for Prevention, the Commission includes experts in clinical and community prevention who provide guidance for NCPP research projects. They also offer strategic direction for developing and disseminating research results. Members include federal, state, and local government officials; university researchers; health plan executives; and other leaders from public and private organizations.

HealthPartners Research Foundation
The HealthPartners Research Foundation (www.hprf.org) is part of the HealthPartners family of care. Conducting about 250 research projects each year, HPRF is dedicated to discovering and accelerating the use of knowledge to improve the health and health care of our members, patients and the community. Founded in 1957, HealthPartners (www.healthpartners.com) is the nation’s largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization, providing care, coverage, research and education for 1.25 million medical and dental health plan members nationwide.

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Partnership for Prevention Comments on New CDC Appointment

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:41:00 GMT

MEDIA STATEMENT

Contact: Laura Diamond, Director of Communications, 202.833-0009, ext 118

July 8, 2010 - “The Partnership for Prevention applauds the appointment of Dr. Tim McAfee to the position of Director, Office of Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC. In the past ten or fifteen years the tobacco control movement has come of age in the United States, with outstanding advances in public awareness efforts, youth tobacco use prevention, tobacco tax increases, and smoke free air policies. However, tobacco cessation efforts, which have the potential to save tens of thousands of lives if given increased priority, have lagged behind. With $16 million of the Prevention and Public Health Fund now dedicated to tobacco cessation efforts, Partnership for Prevention looks forward to working closely with Dr. McAfee to address the public health threat that kills over 400,000 Americans a year, drives huge increases on chronic diseases and $96 billion in health care costs. Now is the time in the nation’s history to more deeply address the public health threat caused by tobacco use and attack it on a national scale, utilizing programs that have been proven to advance public health, reduce smoking and the cost of care. As a long standing advocate for evidence-based tobacco cessation policies, Partnership for Prevention hopes that Dr. McAfee, one of the nation's leading authorities on tobacco cessation, will work to elevate the national priority of cessation. This will benefit tobacco users everywhere, 70% of whom wish to quit, but have yet to see success,” said Robert J. Gould, PhD, President and CEO, Partnership for Prevention.

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Partnership for Prevention Comments on New Preventive Health Care Coverage

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:40:00 GMT

Media Statement
Contact: Laura Diamond, 202/833-0009

Partnership for Prevention Comments on the White House Announcement Regarding New Preventive Health Care Coverage Made Available Under the Affordable Care Act

July 14, 2010 - “Partnership for Prevention’s top legislative priority during health reform was expansion of high value clinical preventive services to every American. Therefore, we are delighted with today’s White House announcement putting into effect a key benefit of health reform; expanding coverage and access to clinical preventive services such as tobacco cessation, cancer screening and aspirin counseling to prevent heart disease. These important clinical services will go far to reduce the incidence of costly chronic diseases and most importantly, save thousands of lives.

In her remarks today, DHHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius cited a Partnership study which showed that by increasing the utilization of only 5 clinical preventive services, over 100,000 lives could be saved. The 5 services included in our study were daily aspirin use, helping smokers to quit, colorectal screening, adult immunization and breast cancer screening.

“The issuance of today’s “Interim Final Rule” is a critically important step to remove cost as an obstacle to people getting the preventive services that will save lives and help reduce health costs. But let’s not underestimate the importance that implementation will play in reaping the full promise of this new health benefit. Clinical preventive services are only effective if used, so it’s vital the Administration commit the resources to educate providers, plans and patients about utilizing these services in an effective and appropriate manner,” said Robert J. Gould, PhD, President & CEO, Partnership for Prevention.
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Partnership Hosts First Health Policy Symposium

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:18:00 GMT

“The Challenge of Implementing Health Reform”

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June 24, 2010 – Washington, D.C. - With the recent passage of health reform and the approval of unprecedented new prevention programs and funding, there is much excitement about next steps. To maximize this historic opportunity, Partnership for Prevention hosted a special lunch symposium and expert panel discussion at the Newseum.

David Rutstein, M.D., M.P.H. , Acting Deputy Surgeon General, said in the keynote address to an audience of nearly 150 leaders in prevention science, advocacy, public policy, Congressional staff, Federal health officials and others, “Prevention is the top priority of the Surgeon General.   Our nation faces a choice of immense proportions. On one hand is a nation devoted to providing sick care. On another is an alternate path to wellness where primary prevention care is practiced. This country needs to practice public health … To make the changes we are all pursuing in prevention, we want to work with you to build a nation committed to wellness and achieve the vision of a healthier America which is now within our grasp.”

Partnership for Prevention’s President and CEO Robert J. Gould, PhD, said that while insurance reform was important “health reform, by itself is not transformative… For if it’s true it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community – composed of employers, teachers, health care providers and so many others to support positive, healthy, affirmative lifestyles … lifestyles that foster wellness and nurture an American spirit that values the maintenance of health as integral to our pursuit of happiness…We must be bold enough to use new prevention funding in ways that can help organize communities for health.”

The meeting highlight was an informal conversation with four of the nation’s leading authorities on prevention and public health.   Speakers included Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, MBA, Director of Public Health and Health Officer, Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health, Professor of Health Services and Pediatrics, UCLA Schools of Public Health and Medicine, John R. Seffrin, CEO, of the American Cancer Society, the nation’s largest and most respected research, education and advocacy organization;   Georges C. Benjamin, MD, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association one of the most influential public health organizations dedicated to the mission of a healthier America and Jeff Levi, PhD, Executive Director, Trust for America’s Health and architect of the influential Blueprint for a Healthier America.   In his introductory remarks Gould highlighted the historic nature of health reform – now called the “Affordable Care Act” and asked the panel to suggest ways prevention focused organizations could take best advantage of the opportunities to make the United States a healthier, more prosperous nation.

Dr. Jonathan Fielding, who also serves as Chairman of the Partnership Board of Directors pointed out that Los Angeles County has 88 cities and over 10 million people with great ethnic diversity and health disparities. He noted that there was a four-fold difference in smoking prevalence and in obesity rates from one city to another. He underscored that the challenges are huge and the solutions are not entirely clear. He also noted that expanding health insurance coverage is not the same as assuring access. He said that additional education and social marketing is needed to educate people about the need for prevention during a time when we have experienced great budget cuts.   Fielding added that health reform now requires a national prevention strategy that involves every relevant federal agency.   “This provides an opportunity to look across the stovepipes, and examine real root causes and social determinants. We know prevention money is coming, so this is an exciting time. It us up to us to meet the challenge.”

Dr. John Seffrin, leader of the nation’s largest and most influential health charity said: “We just released a poll that shows that less than 1 in 5 cancer patients have any idea what is in the health reform law. We need to think about how to get the word out to patients who need services. This is our chance. History was made with the passage of this law … To quote the 41st US President George Herbert Walker Bush, ‘We gotta get it right’. This is the chance to make prevention the center piece of health care reform. We have over 3.5 million volunteers including volunteers in all 435 congressional districts. Together with our volunteers we’re working to create a world where cancer never steals another year from anyone’s life.”

Dr. Georges Benjamin stressed the importance of health reform and new prevention funding to support public health. “Every single public health program in this country needs to be remodeled”, he stressed. The health reform bill as written gives $2 billion on top of existing funding to public health systems. We have to make sure the public health systems come out on top. At APHA we are working hard to raise awareness about what is contained in legislation that will dramatically affect the delivery and financing of health services in our nation.”

Dr. Jeff Levi, summarized the feelings of many in the audience when he said “When you look at what we asked for in the health reform bill, we got most of what we asked for and what we got is quite amazing.” In explaining why President Obama and the US Congress made such a bold commitment to public health Levi said the answer was simple: “They know the problems can’t be solved in the clinical setting but we can prevent chronic disease with primary and secondary prevention.”
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Congress Makes Important Commitment to Prevention and Universal Coverage -- Historic Health Reform Bill Sent to President

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:51:00 GMT

See the new health reform law.

When do provisions of health reform take effect?

Passage of Health Reform - A New Era for Prevention

Statement of Robert J. Gould, President and CEO, Partnership for Prevention:

March 22, 2010 -- Almost thirty years ago the late Senator Edward Kennedy said: “For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die."

Yesterday evening, the House of Representatives voted 219 to 212 to approve HR 3590, the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.” Passage sends the bill to President Obama whose signature will enact a new law future historians may well credit with the same transformative power as social security or Medicare. There are many legislative heroes whose work is responsible for passage of the legislation. Much credit goes to the leadership of President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi but it is also appropriate to recognize how much the career and work of the late Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy contributed to the victory we celebrate today.

HR 3590 enacts vital health insurance reforms, expands Medicaid and makes affordable health insurance available to millions of American families. Of special concern to Partnership, its member companies and organizations, the bill reorients our high cost, sick care system into a health care system that provides funding and priority to evidenced-based clinical and community prevention. Of special note, the bill establishes a dedicated public health and prevention fund providing $15 billion over 10 years to help bring community prevention to every American family.

Yesterday’s vote in the House of Representatives culminates a successful and unprecedented campaign by Partnership members and other public health, prevention and wellness leaders. The result is the largest commitment of new funding for prevention and wellness in American history. In addition, key provisions of the legislation provide:

the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control new authorities to foster effective wellness programs in the workplace;
nutritional labeling at chain food restaurants to give consumers control over caloric intake by making informed choices about their meals; and
expanded coverage and utilization of clinical and community preventive services.

Congratulations are in order. Relish the moment but know this is not a time to be complacent. Much work remains.

Opponents of reform have promised to make repeal of the legislation a defining issue in the November midterm elections. No less important there are very real implementation challenges critical to realizing the benefits of new prevention programs, funding and priorities.

For example, with the exception of mandating Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation for pregnant women, the legislation only encourages, but does not require, State Medicaid programs to cover USPSTF recommended preventive services. Therefore the decision by state Medicaid programs to offer such lifesaving clinical services is optional. There is important work ahead to convince state policymakers of the value and dividends to be gained from investments in clinical preventive services.

In community prevention we know the funding levels in the legislation are inadequate to provide sufficient financial support to meet the needs of every State and community. Communities struggling to address obesity, smoking, physical inactivity and diabetes will need help in adopting evidence-based community prevention policies and programs. New Federal funding will help but we know communities can expand their reach by working with local employers and other stakeholders to foster community health through coalitions. With your continued support Partnership will be working closely with the Task Force on Community Preventive Services and others to identify, disseminate and help implement high value community prevention programs across the country.

I also want to thank you, Partnership’s dedicated Board of Directors and our talented staff for all the hard work over the years and especially your support over the past 15 months. Your commitment to our mission has helped ensure that prevention is an integral part of this historic legislation. It is an accomplishment in which we can all be proud.

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Tobacco-free toolkit helps businesses increase their bottom lines

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:15:00 GMT

Contact:
Damon Thompson, Partnership for Prevention
202-833-0009 or dthompson@prevent.org

Amber McDowell, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
202-296-5469 or AMcDowell@TobaccoFreeKids.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 10, 2009 - Businesses looking for ways to rescue their bottom lines and protect the health of their employees and their families can pick up some valuable tips from a new “toolkit” that shows them how to lower their costs by reducing the use of tobacco in the workplace through personal behavior change, health benefit design, and sensible workplace policies.
The kit, entitled “Investing in A Tobacco-Free Future: How it Benefits Your Bottom Line & Community,” was produced by Partnership for Prevention and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, with funding from the United Health Foundation. It is being mailed this week to every FORTUNE 500 company in America, and it can be accessed online at www.prevent.org/tobaccofreefuture .

Smoking-related illness results in almost $100 billion in health care costs each year, while smokers on average are absent from work seven to 10 more days per year than non-smokers. As the toolkit points out, businesses also incur sizable tobacco-related costs not related to health. Commercial cigarette fires cause about $500 million in damages and kill 2,000 people each year, while cleaning costs associated with smoking in the workplace total about $4 billion per year.

“Businesses can benefit by understanding the serious impact of tobacco and, by implementing programs and policies to help create a healthier community, they can achieve serious gains for maximum return,” said Corrine G. Husten, MD, MPH, Partnership for Prevention’s interim president.

The toolkit shows employers how they can support tobacco control “inside the walls” of their businesses by establishing a model workplace tobacco control program. The model program includes a set of policies, benefits and programs that will encourage employees not to use tobacco in the workplace and to quit using tobacco altogether.

It also lays out how businesses can support efforts beyond their own walls to reduce tobacco use and improve health in the larger community, where employees and their families live, work and play.

“While workplace initiatives can be very effective in improving health, these efforts will have an even bigger impact if employees and their families live in healthy communities,” said Matthew Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “By getting involved in state and community efforts to reduce tobacco use, businesses can make an even bigger difference in the health of their employees and the cost of their health care.”

“All Americans should be concerned by the persistent reports that more than 20% of the population continues to smoke tobacco,” said Reed V. Tuckson, MD, United Health Foundation board member and executive vice president and chief of medical affairs, UnitedHealth Group. “Employers have a special opportunity and incentive to positively influence the behavior of their employees and to become strong advocates in public policy discussions in their communities to control tobacco abuse and its devastating health consequences.”

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ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS:

Partnership for Prevention

Partnership for Prevention is a non-partisan, non-profit organization of business, health care and government leaders seeking to make disease prevention and health promotion a national priority in health policies and practices. For more information, go online to www.prevent.org.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a leader in the fight to reduce tobacco use and its devastating consequences in the United States and around the world. By changing public attitudes and public policies on tobacco, the Campaign works to prevent kids from smoking, help smokers quit and protect everyone from secondhand smoke.

United Health Foundation

Guided by a passion to help people live healthier lives, United Health Foundation supports activities that expand access to quality health care services for those in challenging circumstances and partners with others to improve the well being of communities. The Foundation also provides helpful information to support decisions that lead to better health outcomes and healthier communities. Since established by UnitedHealth Group [NYSE: UNH] in 1999 as a not for profit private foundation, the Foundation has committed more than $160 million to improve health and health care. For more information, visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.

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Partnership Board Member Testifies before Congress in Favor of Workplace Health Promotion

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:15:00 GMT

Catherine M. Baase, M.D., Global Director of Health Services at The Dow Chemical Company and a member of Partnership for Prevention’s Board of Directors, told a U.S. Senate committee that workplace health promotion programs should be an important part of health reform efforts.

“As the nation moves into the full fledged debate about the future of health care, it is imperative we consider all possible options to keep Americans well,” Baase told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions during a Feb. 23 hearing. “Worksite health programs, such as those implemented by Dow around the world, are key components of empowering people to take control of their health.”

Baase said Dow has offered an employee occupational health program for 90 years and has had a focused health promotion program for more than 20 years. Through just one of Dow’s key services under the program - health advocacy case management – she said Dow received $11.7 million in total economic benefit in 2007 and saved 9,232 total absenteeism days.

“By improving our primary health risk factors by just one percentage point per year, we would save $62 million in U.S. direct health care costs over 10 years,” she said.

A compete transcript of Baase’s testimony is available by clicking here.

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Partnership for Prevention Offers Health Reform Recommendations to Congress

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:15:00 GMT

CONTACT: Damon Thompson
202-833-0009/ dthompson@prevent.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 11, 2008 – Partnership for Prevention today unveiled health reform recommendations to Congress that would strengthen disease prevention and health promotion efforts to tackle the chronic diseases that are causing medical costs to spiral.

Under these proposals, federally funded insurance programs would provide highly cost-effective clinical preventive services with no deductibles or co-pays, while Congress would provide incentives to states, health care providers and employers to deliver such services. Meanwhile, a stand-alone revenue source would be established to fund state and local efforts to create healthy environments and promote healthy lifestyles, while a Public Health Advisory Commission would be created to recommend how that funding should be allocated. The complete list of recommendations is available online at: www.prevent.org/HealthReform.

“Giving all Americans access to quality, affordable medical care will not by itself rein in the ballooning health care costs that threaten to overwhelm our government and our economy,” Corinne G. Husten MD, Partnership’s interim president, said at a policy forum on health reform. “We must address the drivers of those costs and do more to keep people healthy.

“Real health reform must start with prevention,” she said. “Without a much stronger emphasis on prevention than now exists, we have little hope of controlling costs without sacrificing health.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes account for about 75 percent of the nation's aggregate health care spending - or about $5,300 per person in the U.S. each year.

Partnership’s recommendations focus on three areas: increased utilization of clinical preventive services, promotion of community preventive services, and increasing the impact of prevention through research and performance measurement.

The recommendation to cover preventive services in federally sponsored health insurance programs would apply to Medicare, Medicaid, the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration, as well as the private-sector health insurance offerings included in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The covered services would be those recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

The newly created Public Health Advisory Commission would also recommend strategies to hold the public health system accountable for achieving the “Healthy People” health goals sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Partnership also recommends increased investment in research on effective clinical and community preventive services, as well as improved data systems to monitor progress in meeting Healthy People goals.

Partnership’s recommendations were drawn from a series of policy papers commissioned from leading national public health authorities. The papers cover such diverse topics as modernizing Medicare to improve the delivery of preventive services, determining the content of a package of preventive services, linking the clinical care and public health systems, strengthening the role of the nation’s public health system, reorganizing the Department of Health and Human Services, and expanding worksite health promotion programs.

The authors of the papers include: Kurt Stange, professor of family medicine, epidemiology & biostatistics, and sociology and oncology at Case Western Reserve University; Steven Woolf, professor at the departments of family medicine, epidemiology and community health at Virginia Commonwealth University; Douglas Kamerow, chief scientist at RTI; Jonathan Fielding, Los Angeles County ‘s Director of Health; Ron Goetzel, Director of Emory University’s Institute for Health and Productivity Studies; Arkansas Surgeon General Joe Thompson, and Larry Lewin, health consultant and founder of The Lewin Group. All of the papers are available at www.prevent.org/HealthReform.

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Partnership Hosts Congressional Briefings on Adult Immunizations

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:14:00 GMT

On May 8, 2009, Partnership for Prevention hosted a Congressional briefing at which leading experts examined the importance of strengthening adult immunizations and discussed what Congress can do to improve access and coverage of immunizations recommended for all adults in our current system or a reformed health system. Several of the policies discussed at the briefing will not only increase the rates of adult immunizations today, but will also better America’s systems and infrastructure to confront the pandemic of tomorrow.

You can view streaming video of the briefing here:

• Jason M.M. Spangler, MD, MPH, Managing Senior Fellow and Senior Program Officer, Partnership for Prevention

• Litjen (L.J) Tan, MS, PhD, Director, Medicine and Public Health, American Medical Association

• Len Novick, Executive Director, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

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Two “Leading by Example” Partners Honored at White House

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:14:00 GMT

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Partnership Helps Kick Off First-Ever National Workplace Wellness Week

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:14:00 GMT

April 3, 2009, WASHINGTON – Partnership for Prevention joined the U.S. Workplace Wellness Alliance (USWWA) on Capitol Hill today to celebrate the first-ever observance of “National Workplace Wellness Week.” They were joined at a press conference at the Capitol Visitors Center by four members of Congress – Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA)and John Cornyn (R-TX), and Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Mary Bono-Mack (R-CA), in re-introducing the “Healthy Workforce Act.”

Congress last fall declared the first full week of April as “National Workplace Wellness Week” to help “recognize the importance of workplace wellness as a strategy to maximize employee’s health and well-being.” Partnership for Prevention provided technical support in drafting the resolution and worked with Reps. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-SD) and Charles Boustany Jr. (R-LA) and the USWWA to introduce it in Congress.

Rep. Charles Boustany Jr. (R-LA) was one of the original sponsors of the legislation that established National Workplace Wellness Week. We interviewed him for an episode of our "Prevention Matters" podcast, which you can listen to by clicking here.

For more information, visit the Alliance website at http://www.uswwa.org.

Resources

1. "The Burden of Chronic Disease on Business and U.S. Competitiveness," excerpt from Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease's 2009 Almanac of Chronic Disease

2. Leading by Example: Leading Practices in Employee Health Management

3. Investing in Health: Evidence-Based Health Promotion Practices for the Workplace: Provides employers with guidance for establishing health promotion practices in the workplace. These practices improve employee health by controlling tobacco use, promoting cancer screening and early detection, and encouraging physical activity and healthy eating.

4. Why Invest? Recommendations for Improving Your Prevention Investment: A report offering an overview of the results of a national survey on employer coverage for clinical preventive services, and comparing the results to key findings from Partnership's most recent rankings of recommended preventive services. The report also includes examples from organizations investing in preventive services for their employees and recommendations to employers for increasing the coverage and use of preventive services.

5. Healthy Workforce 2010: An Essential Health Promotion Sourcebook for Employers, Large and Small: Strategies and rationale for investing in worksite health promotion.

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Community Prevention Task Force “Chronically Underfunded,” Partnership Says

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:14:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC, March 30, 2009 - Partnership for Prevention today urged Congress to make a down-payment on health reform by increasing resources for the U.S. Task Force on Community Preventive Services (USTFCPS), which has been unable to disseminate its more recent findings due to chronic underfunding.

Partnership Interim President Corinne G. Husten, MD, MPH, echoed a request from USTFCPS Chairman Jonathan E. Fielding, who testified Tuesday before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

“If we’re serious about health reform, we must make an investment in community prevention, and we need to know what works,” Husten said. “The task force is the nation’s only independent scientific body that evaluates community prevention strategies. It is chronically underfunded and cannot provide states and communities the evidence they need to protect the health of their citizens.”

“A person’s health is just as strongly influenced by the environment around them as it is by the medical care available to them,” she said. “The Task Force on Community Preventive Services issues invaluable findings and recommendations about how to best improve health through community interventions.”

“Unless we have a serious commitment to prevention, we will not be able to control costs without sacrificing health,” Husten said. “Real health reform starts with prevention.”

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“Prevention provides high clinical value at a reasonable cost,” Gould tells NYT

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:13:00 GMT

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Prevention Undervalued, Gould Tells NPR

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:13:00 GMT

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NYT Column Cites NCPP Study on Value of Prevention

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:13:00 GMT

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Chlamydia Coalition, NWHC team up to inform young women about chlamydia screening

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:13:00 GMT

The National Chlamydia Coalition, convened by Partnership for Prevention and CDC, collaborated with the National Women’s Health Resource Center to update their web content to include information on the importance of chlamydia screening. Annual chlamydia screening tests for all sexually active women age 25 years and younger are recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force and others. Partnership’s National Commission on Prevention Priorities estimates that if 90% of eligible women were routinely screened for chlamydia, 30,000 cases of pelvic inflammatory disease could be prevented each year. Learn more about this collaboration at http://tinyurl.com/chlamyd.
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PfP President’s Letter to Post Questions Media’s Take on Prevention

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:12:00 GMT

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Problems Unique to Adolescents Overlooked in Delivery of Clinical Preventive Services

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:11:00 GMT

CONTACT: Damon Thompson
202-625-1600 / dthompson@prevent.org

WASHINGTON DC, Oct. 26, 2009 – Too little attention is paid to improving the delivery of clinical preventive services to adolescents by addressing problems unique to that population, says a new study commissioned by Partnership for Prevention.

Most of the clinical preventable services that are recommended for adolescents also don’t have good evidence to support their effectiveness, say authors of the study, which appears in the current online edition and the November print edition of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The review article, “Clinical Preventive Services for Adolescents,” is freely available to the public electronically at www.ajpm-online.net. It sheds light on the lack of attention that’s been given to preventive health and wellness recommendations for adolescents between the ages of 11 and 17.

“We need to encourage both more clinical effectiveness research on clinical preventive services for adolescents and changes in the ways medical practices serving adolescents approach improving delivery rates,” said Leif I. Solberg, MD, the study’s chief author who is Associate Medical Director for Care Improvement Research, HealthPartners Medical Group.

“It’s important that healthcare providers use every medical encounter, not just ‘well-child visits,’ which not all adolescents receive regularly, to address their clinical preventive services needs,” Solberg said.

The study reviewed 28 counseling services and 31 screening services recommended by at least one of five national groups that issue comprehensive preventive care recommendations for teens. Only seven non-immunization services were given A or B recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which uses a rigorous approach to assess the effectiveness of both the service itself and the benefits of delivering the service in a clinical setting. Those seven included cervical cancer (Pap test), Chlamydia (girls), depression, tobacco, and for persons at increased risk of gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV.

Of the seven effective recommended services, five involve sexual health, including STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and cervical cancer (Pap test). Of this limited set of services, only Chlamydia screening and Pap tests are recommended for all sexually active young women and also have been judged to also be high value, according to the National Commission on Prevention Priorities.

However, even among STI screening services for which there is good evidence, too little attention is paid to improving delivery of these services by addressing problems unique to adolescents. Those problems include:

• The time typically allocated for routine adolescent exams is quite short and is unlikely to be extended, given Medicaid’s recent reductions in preventive visit reimbursements relative to other services.
• Many clinicians feel that adolescents are less likely to heed their recommendations because they believe adolescents are less interested in their long-term health than adults and more likely to engage in risk behaviors.
• Delivery of clinical services to adolescents tends to be driven by tradition, expert opinion, and the very limited needs of particular required preventive visits (e.g., school or sports physicals)

“Despite these problems and the fact that most adolescents are healthy, more than 70% of adolescent morbidity and mortality is the result of risk behaviors, such as alcohol use, unsafe sex and violence,” the authors wrote. “The clinical setting presents an opportunity to identify risky behaviors early and to steer adolescents in the right direction.”

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Partnership for Prevention is a non-profit membership organization of business, non-profit and government leaders working to make evidence-based prevention a national priority. Its initiatives include the National Chlamydia Coalition, which seeks to address the continued high burden of Chlamydia infection – especially among women age 25 and younger – and to reduce rates of Chlamydia and its harmful effects among sexually active adolescent and young adults. More information is available at http://www.prevent.org/ncc. Funding for the review article was provided by the Division of STD Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Partnership, U-Md. Develop Novel Facebook Application to Prevent Cervical Cancer

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:11:00 GMT

CONTACT: Damon Thompson
202-833-2009 / dthompson@prevent.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 12, 2009 – A new Facebook application has been launched to help educate, motivate and mobilize people to prevent the spread of Humanpapilloma Virus (HPV). “Fact Check: HPV” (www.hpvfactcheck.org) allows users to take an interactive, educational quiz about HPV, find additional resources, and commit to take action, while even allowing concerned friends to anonymously share the application with peers.

The application was developed by Partnership for Prevention and the University of Maryland’s College of Information Studies with input from the School of Public Health. The project was funded by the Fund to Prevent Cervical Cancer.

“Use of social networking sites has skyrocketed in the last few years, becoming an excellent channel to promote healthy behaviors,” said Robert J. Gould PhD, president of Partnership for Prevention. “Fact Check: HPV will harness the power of social media to increase awareness of this common sexually transmitted disease (STD).”

Use of social networking sites has quadrupled over the last four years from 8 percent in 2005 to over 35 percent in 2008. Over 75% of young adults, age 18-24, have a profile page, the vast majority of whom check it at least weekly.

“Young adults trust information recommended by friends, however, friends are often reticent to share information about stigmatized illnesses such as STDs, mental illnesses, or substance abuse. This project tests a novel strategy that spreads sensitive information through friendship networks, while still retaining anonymity.” said Derek L. Hansen, PhD, Assistant Professor at University of Maryland’s College of Information Studies. “It also helps us learn how the application spreads through the network and identify misperceptions about HPV based on quiz results.”

A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that one in four adolescent girls between the ages of 14-19, or 3.2 million teen girls, is infected with at least one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases— (HPV, Chlamydia, Herpes, and Trichomoniasis). This study sheds new light on a chronic problem among adolescents in the United States—one that often receives little attention, in part, due to the sensitive nature of the topic.

STDs can result in serious health consequences when left untreated, including cervical cancer and infertility, and cost the U.S. health care system millions of dollars in medical expenses.

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Partnership for Prevention is a membership organization of business, nonprofit and government leaders working to make evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion a national priority. More information is available at www.prevent.org.

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Gould: More Science Needed on Incentives Based on Employees' Health Profiles

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:11:00 GMT

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Partnership Hails Sen. Harkin’s Move to Chair Senate HELP Committee

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:11:00 GMT

Prevention advocates everywhere are very pleased that Sen. Tom Harkin will be assuming the helm of the Senate HELP Committee. Sen. Harkin has long been the Senate’s most passionate proponent of disease prevention and health promotion, and he has worked tirelessly to give prevention a voice during this year’s health reform deliberations. Partnership for Prevention congratulates him for reaching this much-deserved milestone in his career.

We are also pleased that Sen. Harkin will retain his post as chairman of the Senate Health Appropriations Committee. Holding both chairmanships will give him a decisive role in both authorization and appropriations bills pertaining to health.

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"Health Care vs. Sick Care" Ad Campaign Launched by Partnership and TFAH

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:08:00 GMT

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Gould: We Can Create a Culture of Health in this Country

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:07:00 GMT

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Prevention Shouldn't Apologize for Helping People Live Longer, Gould Tells Nation's Health

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:07:00 GMT

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Partnership Board Vice Chair Named Chair of ABA's Science & Tech Law Section

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:07:00 GMT

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Partnership/ UHF/APHA Issue “America's Health Rankings 2009.”

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:06:00 GMT

Diseases associated with smoking, poor eating habits and inactivity are costing Americans trillions More than 1 in 4 Americans are now obese - an increase of 129 percent in 20 years

Nov. 17, 2009 -- The data contained in the 20th Anniversary Edition of America’s Health Rankings™ notes a worrisome escalation in preventable diseases that will significantly increase costs in an already unaffordable medical care delivery system. Of the $2.4 trillion of annual health care expenditures in the United States, $1.8 trillion is associated with the treatment of chronic disease, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

“As our nation’s leaders discuss health care reform and address the essential challenge of providing medical care coverage for 46 million uninsured Americans, controlling the escalation in health care costs is an imperative,” said Reed Tuckson, M.D, United Health Foundation board member and executive vice president and chief of medical affairs, UnitedHealth Group. “Unless there is urgent action across our society, our already overburdened care system will be swamped by a tsunami of cost and demands from preventable chronic disease. Together, as individuals, community leaders, health care professionals, employers and elected officials, we must elevate disease prevention and health promotion to the top of our agendas.”

Tobacco consumption and obesity have emerged as the two priorities that threaten the health of the nation. While tobacco use dropped from 19.8 percent of the population last year to 18.3 percent this year, approximately 440,000 deaths annually are still attributable to this preventable behavior.

Obesity has increased nearly 130 percent since the first edition of America’s Health Rankings™ was issued 20 years ago. Currently, 27 percent of the population is obese. A supplemental analysis to this year’s report conducted by Kenneth Thorpe, Ph.D., shows America now spends $80 billion in direct health care costs associated with obesity. Left unchecked, 43 percent of adults will be obese and obesity will add nearly $344 billion in 2018 alone to the nation’s annual direct health care costs, accounting for more than 21 percent of health care spending.

America’s Health Rankings™ is an annual comprehensive assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state analysis. It is published jointly by United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention. The data in the report comes from validated outside sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report is reviewed and overseen by a Scientific Advisory Committee, with members from leading academic institutions, government agencies and the private sector.

Results From the Nation’s Only 20-Year Scorecard

Many public health scholars believe that obesity has become equal to, and may overtake tobacco use, as the most significant risk factor for death and disease in the nation. That is in part because, while smoking has declined slightly in the past 20 years and it still exacts extraordinary health consequences on our nation, obesity is on a dangerous, and as yet unchecked, trajectory.

• Smoking — Biggest Battle of Past 20 Years: Despite focused efforts, nearly one in five Americans still smoke. Over the past year, more than 3 million people have quit smoking, suggesting that interventions such as smoke-free laws, smoking bans, increased cigarette taxes, access to smoking cessation programs and other interventions may have a positive impact.
• Obesity — Next National Health Battle: Obesity is growing faster than any previous chronic health issue our nation has faced. Today, more than one in four Americans are considered obese.
If current trends continue, 103 million American adults — or 43 percent of the population — will be considered obese by 2018.
• Other 20-Year Improvements and Challenges: Over the past 20 years, the nation has seen significant declines in crime rates, infectious disease, smoking and infant mortality rates.
• Challenges since 1990 include the rising uninsured rate, lack of progress in increasing high school graduation rates and the need to continue to improve access to adequate prenatal care for pregnant women.
• This year’s report and data from the past 20 years are available at www.americashealthrankings.org.

www.americashealthrankings.org.

Economic Impact of Obesity

United Health Foundation commissioned a unique supplemental report for this year’s Rankings to understand the financial impact of obesity. This “Future Costs of Obesity” report was written by Kenneth E. Thorpe, Ph.D., Emory University professor, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease executive director and former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Policy in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Clinton. It is the first to provide projections around future health care costs directly attributable to obesity that have been individually calculated for each state, as well as the nation.

• Obesity-Related Cost Projections for 2018: Excess Pounds Creates Excess Costs: Left unchecked, obesity will add nearly $344 billion to the nation’s annual health care costs by 2018 and account for more than 21 percent of health care spending.
• Oklahoma is projected to have the highest obesity rate in the country by 2018; as a result, they are facing an estimated $3.2 billion in health care costs attributable to obesity.
• Colorado is estimated to have the lowest national obesity rate by 2018, costing the state $1.8 billion in health care costs tied to obesity.

Vermont on Top for 2009 State Rankings; New York Most Improved in 20 Years

This year, the Rankings not only provided an annual list of the healthiest and least healthy states, but also determined which states had improved the most over the past 20 years in overall health and how the states compared in their progress against smoking and obesity since 1990.

2009 State Rankings

The 2009 Anniversary Edition shows Vermont as the healthiest state this year. The state has had a steady climb in the Rankings for the past 12 years, moving up from 20th in 1990. Utah climbed from a ranking of fifth to second this year, followed by Massachusetts (3), Hawaii (4) and New Hampshire (5) to round out the Top 5 healthiest states for 2009. For the second year in a row, Utah leads the nation as the state with the lowest prevalence of smoking, and Colorado ranks as the state with the lowest prevalence of obesity.

Mississippi is ranked 50th this year, followed by Oklahoma (49), Alabama (48), Louisiana (47) and South Carolina (46). A complete listing of the 2009 state health rankings is available at www.americashealthrankings.org.

“Every state has its successes from which we can all learn, regardless of its placing in the Rankings. And every state has its challenges,” said Georges C. Benjamin, M.D., executive director of the American Public Health Association. “The take-home message from this year’s report is found in the sub-title: ‘a call to action for people and their communities.’ Our nation’s public health professionals cannot win this battle alone; all people have to do their share. Unless we do, all of us will pay the price in higher health care costs and diminished access to care.”

States With the Most Improvement Since 1990

Over the past 20 years, New York has demonstrated the most improvement in the overall health of its population. This improvement has primarily been driven by a 60 percent reduction in violent crime and significant reductions in infant mortality and smoking rates. Other states showing the greatest improvement since 1990 include Vermont, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Minnesota.

States with the greatest success reducing smoking over the past 20 years include Rhode Island, Virginia, Maryland, Florida, Delaware and Vermont. States with the greatest success against obesity over the past 20 years include Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Wyoming and Florida.

“We will never improve the health of our states until prevention is at the forefront of what we do,” said Robert J. Gould, Ph.D., president and CEO of Partnership for Prevention. “We clearly have a lot of work ahead of us if we are to have healthy states and a healthy nation. Combating the dynamic social aspects of health is difficult, but when all parties —including employers — work together effectively, we can make a real difference in the community as well as in the workplace.”

Get Informed and Take Action to Improve National Health

The 20th Anniversary Edition of America’s Health Rankings™ has more data than ever before, and the data is now easier to access, compare and share. The following tools are now available at www.americashealthrankings.org:

• e-Rankings is a searchable database that makes it possible to find out how each state — and the nation — rates now compared to 20 years ago.
• Healthy Actions Center features tips, tools and programs offered by proven experts to help everyone — from individuals to elected officials — make a difference now.
• Obesity Cost Calculator highlights national and state-specific costs of obesity today and projects how those costs could skyrocket in the future.

About America’s Health Rankings™

America’s Health Rankings™ is the longest running report of its kind. For 20 years, the Rankings has provided an analysis of national health on a state-by-state basis by evaluating a historical and comprehensive set of health, environmental and socio-economic data to determine national health benchmarks and state rankings. The Rankings employs a unique methodology, developed and annually reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Committee of leading public health scholars. For more information, visit www.americashealthrankings.org.

About the United Health Foundation

Guided by a passion to help people live healthier lives, United Health Foundation provides helpful information to support decisions that lead to better health outcomes and healthier communities. The Foundation also supports activities that expand access to quality health care services for those in challenging circumstances and partners with others to improve the well being of communities. Since established by UnitedHealth Group [NYSE: UNH] in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation, the Foundation has committed more than $170 million to improve health and health care. For more information, visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.

About the American Public Health Association

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world and has been working to improve public health since 1872. The
Association aims to protect all Americans, their families and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. APHA represents a broad array of health professionals and others who care about their own health and the health of their communities. More information is available at www.apha.org.

About Partnership for Prevention

Partnership for Prevention is a membership organization of businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies advancing policies and practices to prevent disease and improve the health of all Americans. The organization seeks to increase investment in preventing disease, promoting health and making prevention a national priority among both the public and private sectors. For additional information, visit www.prevent.org.

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Partnership President Comments on USPTF Mammogram Recommendations

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:06:00 GMT

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New Book: How to Set Up Effective Workplace Health and Wellness Programs

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:05:00 GMT

Contact: Blair Latoff 202-463-5682

WASHINGTON, D.C. —The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Partnership for Prevention today released a new guidebook - Healthy Workforce 2010 and Beyond - to help employers plan, implement, and evaluate workplace health promotion programs that lower health costs and boost productivity.

“We are committed to improving the health status of American workers,” said Randy Johnson, Senior Vice President of Labor, Immigration, and Employee Benefits for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “We can foster employee health by increasing the number of employers that include worksite health promotion and wellness programs in their benefits strategies.”

The book provides both private and public sector employers with information about the benefits of investing in worksite health promotion. It outlines current approaches and tactics that are supported by research findings or “promising practices” that are successful as part of wellness programs.

“Chronic diseases are significant drivers of health care costs, and a majority of American employees have at least one chronic condition,” said Partnership President Robert. J. Gould, PhD. “By practicing health management in the workplace, employers not only help workers live healthier lives, but they also improve employers’ bottom lines through reduced health costs and increased productivity.”

Using a program focused on tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse, physical inactivity, and obesity, the book explains how small, medium, and large organizations can take positive steps to achieve health objectives as part of a comprehensive health promotion program. It also highlights the current health status of American workers, and shows how to design workplace health programs that attain workforce health objectives.

A copy of the sourcebook, entitled Healthy Workforce 2010 and Beyond, may be downloaded from the following Website: https://www.uschamber.com/assets/labor/2010hwforce.pdf

"The Case for Wellness Programs: From Evidence to Practice," a Dec. 3 meeting in Washington DC sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Partnership for Prevention, is available for viewing online at http://www.uschamber.com/webcasts/2009/091203_ncf_wellness2009.htm.

The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

www.uschamber.com # # # www.chamberpost.com

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11 Health & Prevention Organizations Defend USPSTF, Mammogram Recommendations in Letter to Congress

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:05:00 GMT

CONTACT: Damon Thompson
202-997-6125 / dthompson@prevent.org

WASHINGTON DC, Dec. 4, 2009 - Twelve of the nation's leading health and prevention organizations sent a letter to Congress that defended the recent recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force regarding breast cancer screening and set the record straight about recent public misstatements regarding the recommendations.

“The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force was established as an independent body to apply rigor and objectivity to the analysis of clinical preventive care – even on issues that arouse passions and political posturing,” the organization leaders said in a letter to Congressional Committee leaders. “The misstatements we have noted are evidence of both of these dangers, and the Task Force is our best defense against both.

“Our common goal is for preventive services to improve the health of all Americans,” they continued. “We believe the Task Force is the best way to ensure we’re guided toward that goal by recommendations of experts who are guided by science, and only by science.”

The letter was signed by leaders of the following organizations: American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American Academy of Physician Assistants, American College of Physicians, American College of Preventive Medicine, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, American Medical Association, American Public Health Association, National Association of County and City Health Officials, Partnership for Prevention, Public Health Institute, and Trust for America’s Health.

A hearing on the USPSTF recommendations was held on December 2, 2009 before the House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. Copies of witness statements and streaming video of the hearing can be viewed here.

The letter, a copy of which is available here (House version) (Senate version) specifically addressed three misstatements:

• The Task Force recommends that women aged 40 – 49 not receive mammograms. “The Task Force does not recommend that all women in this age group automatically start receiving mammograms at age 40.” the letter states. “Rather, it simply recommends that those women and their health care professionals have a full discussion about the potential pros and cons of screening. This allows the patient to incorporate information about her family history, overall health, and personal values and preferences along with the best scientific information into the decision-making process.

“The result is an empowered patient who is able to make an informed decision about whether or not to be tested. In fact, many women may choose to continue mammography because they value the small chance that they might benefit, but other women may choose to defer beginning mammograms until the balance of benefits and risks is more favorable.”

• The Task Force recommendations were intended to reduce costs. “The Task Force never uses cost as a reason to recommend against a service that has been proven to be effective,” the letter states. “In its review of the evidence about breast cancer screening, the Task Force had a single objective – to determine how to maximize the health of women.”

• Members of the Task Force are not qualified to make scientific recommendations. “Since its inception (in 1984), it has been recognized as the authoritative source for determining the effectiveness of clinical preventive services, and its methods have been adapted by guidelines groups worldwide,” the letter says. “While this small group of distinguished health care professionals and researchers is largely unknown to the general public, its work is well known to clinicians in preventive and primary care practice...The preventive services recommended by the Task Force have prevented hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of premature deaths and averted needless harms.”

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Partnership Urges Congress: Preserve Independence, Expertise of Prevention Task Forces

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Rochester Businesses Work to Improve Community Health

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Partnership Awards Grants to Enhance Chlamydia Screening

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:04:00 GMT

With funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Partnership for Prevention has awarded one-year grants to regional, state and local organizations to implement innovative strategies to increase chlamydia screening and follow-up care. The grants are also designed to encourage collaboration among local affiliates of the National Chlamydia Coalition (NCC). Comprised of 40 member organizations, the NCC was established to address the continued high burden of chlamydia infections, especially among women age 24 and younger.

Grants have been awarded to a variety of organizations, including county and state health departments, school-based health centers, a department of juvenile services, and a university, among others. The projects will address one or more barriers to chlamydia screening and will be designed to reach a variety of audiences. Lessons learned from the projects will be shared widely so that models can be replicated in other communities. For a complete list of grantees and project descriptions, click here.

The CDC estimates there are about 3 million new cases of chlamydia annually. Left untreated in women, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which in turn can cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and other health concerns. It is easily detected with a urine-based screening test and treated with antibiotics. Yearly screening of all sexually active females age 24 and younger is widely recommended. The National Commission on Prevention Priorities ranked chlamydia screening as a high value clinical preventive service and estimated that if 90 percent of eligible women were screened, 30,000 cases of pelvic inflammatory disease could be prevented each year.

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New FDA Rule Protects Kids from Tobacco

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:04:00 GMT

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule containing a broad set of federal requirements designed to significantly curb access to and the appeal of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products to children and adolescents in the United States. Published March 19, 2010, the new rule becomes effective June 22, 2010, and has the force and effect of law.

Titled Regulations Restricting the Sale and Distribution of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco to Protect Children and Adolescents, the new rule restricts the sale, distribution, and promotion of these products to make them less accessible and less attractive to kids. Among other things, the rule prohibits the sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to people younger than 18, prohibits the sale of cigarette packages with less than 20 cigarettes, prohibits distribution of free samples of cigarettes, restricts distribution of free samples of smokeless tobacco, and prohibits tobacco brand name sponsorship of any athletic, musical or other social or cultural events.

“Partnership for Prevention supports these excellent measures the FDA has taken to protect America’s children and youth”, said Rob Gould, President and CEO of Partnership, “and many lives will be saved from tobacco-related disease as a result.“

Here are more details:

On March 19, 2010, the FDA Center for Tobacco Products will publish a new rule that aims to protect kids from tobacco addiction and premature death from tobacco use.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard K. Koh, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg will hold a press briefing to announce the rule today at 1:30pm. To watch the live broadcast, go to: http://www.hhs.gov

The new rule becomes effective June 22, 2010 and prohibits the sale, distribution, and marketing of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to youth, including:

Sale and Distribution Regulations:

• Prohibits the sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to people younger than 18.
• Prohibits the sale of cigarette packages with fewer than 20 cigarettes.
• Prohibits the sale of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in vending machines, self-service displays, or other impersonal modes of sales, except in very limited situations.
• Restricts free samples of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products.

Marketing Regulations:

• Prohibits tobacco brand name sponsorship of any athletic, musical, or other social or cultural event, or any team or entry in those events.
• Prohibits gifts or other items in exchange for buying cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products.
• Requires that audio ads use only words with no music or sound effects.
• Prohibits the sale or distribution of items, such as hats and tee shirts, with tobacco brands or logos.

How You Can Help
• Spread the word: Share this information through your email distribution lists, newsletters, Websites, and other communication channels.
• Show your support: Place the “Protecting Kids from Tobacco” social media badges and buttons on your Web site, Facebook page, MySpace page, or in your blog to share information about these new regulations.
• Submit your data: FDA is also publishing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking that requests information from the field on the regulation of outdoor advertising of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

Press release: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/03/20100318a.html
Entire FDA rule: www.fda.gov/protectingkidsfromtobacco.

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Partnership Submits Comments to CMS on Regulations for the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:04:00 GMT

March 12, 2010 - This week, Partnership for Prevention, in collaboration with Trust for America’s Health, submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the proposed rule (found here) for implementation of the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Partnership believes that implementation of health information technology (HIT), specifically an integrated and functional electronic health records (EHRs) system, has great potential for prevention and population-based health. Partnership CEO Robert Gould notes: “There is already a strong evidence base for provider reminder systems, and the additional use of electronic health records is an important step toward improving the delivery of preventive services.” The public comments can be found here. If you would like to submit your own comments to support prevention in the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program, click here.
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Congress Told "Incentives Work"

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:04:00 GMT

February 23, 2010 – Partnership joined the Congressional Prevention Caucus in a Capitol Hill briefing to explore the role that incentive-based programs play in promoting a healthy workforce. There is growing interest in Congress in the use of cash and other worksite based incentives in helping employees quit smoking, become more physically active and reduce other risk factors for chronic diseases. The luncheon briefing attracted an engaged audience of congressional staffers and public health leaders.

Featured speakers included Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Healthcare at the Wharton School, William Bunn, MD, JD, MPH, Vice President, Health and Safety for Navistar, Inc, the nation’s largest truck and engine maker; and Daniel Wikler, PhD, Professor of Ethics and Population Health at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Partnership CEO Robert Gould moderated the session pointing out: “One of the most hopeful trends in disease prevention and health promotion over the past several years has been the movement among corporations to promote health and wellness through worksite-based programs. Increasingly, corporate executives are not just speaking out on the high cost of health care; they are creating compelling models to produce a healthier work force.”

Dr. Volpp shared the results of his research showing the long-term, successful effects of providing cash incentives to employees. He said, “Many employers and insurers are implementing incentives for wellness to reduce costs because premiums tend to be the same for employees regardless of health habits and employers bear cost of employees’ unhealthy behaviors.” Citing his work published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Volpp noted that offering cash incentives – a type of carrot – tripled long-term smoking cessation. Most notable, the increased rate of cessation held even after incentive payments were discontinued. Volpp concluded that “Direct payment incentives may be at least as effective as pharmacologic approaches” to smoking cessation.

Navistar, the nation’s largest manufacturer of trucks and engines, has extensive experience with health assessment incentives. William Bunn noted that their “employees can earn up to $1,220 per year for taking [Health Assessments], participating in wellness programming and verifying smoke free status.” Over the past three years, the incidence of smoking among the Navistar workforce has declined 17 percent. In addition to a $50 monthly premium differential for smokers, the company provides comprehensive smoking cessation programs including telephonic and in person consultation, NRT mailed to employees homes and prescription cessation medications. Results after the first year showed:

• 10% of NAVISTAR employees identified themselves as smokers
• 53% enrolled in the NAVISTAR-paid smoking cessation program
• 83% of those enrolled in the cessation program quit
• 80% of those who quit remained smoke-free after one year

Harvard’s Daniel Wikler acknowledged the power of incentives to influence behavior but cautioned against incentive schemes that would substantially raise insurance premiums for employees and their families for health conditions that they be unable to change due to genetics or other constraints. In a recent commentary article for the New England Journal of Medicine, Wikler and his colleagues wrote that “Incentives for healthy behavior may be part of an effective national response to risk factors for chronic disease. Wrongly implemented, however, they can introduce substantial inequity into the health insurance system.”

The luncheon speakers were in broad agreement about the importance of carefully implementing incentive programs and conducting research to help employers identify the programs that will be most effective for their employees.

Partnership’s Gould noted “While Congress is still grappling with the details of health reform, private-sector companies are not waiting on reform to act. Despite the recession we have not seen significant reductions in their investments in prevention and wellness. They know the value. There are provisions in pending health reform bills that could encourage the use premium discounts to reward healthy behaviors like smoking cessation. It is important to note that insurance discounts are only one form of incentive that employers are currently using to help support a healthy workforce. It is vital that the impact of incentive based wellness programs be carefully assessed to help employers create the kind of workplace and community environment that supports employee health.”

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Quitlines at a Crossroads

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:03:00 GMT

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Partnership Awards ACTTION Grants to Increase Access to Tobacco Cessation Treatments

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:03:00 GMT

Partnership for Prevention has awarded six ACTTION State Grants for the implementation of innovative strategies to increase access to tobacco cessation treatments. Funds are to be used primarily for the development of state alliances/summit meetings and the creation of strategic plans. The projects will range from focusing on employer groups and health care systems to the uninsured and the behavioral health/substance abuse populations. For a complete list of grantees and project descriptions, click here.

With funding from the Pfizer Foundation, Partnership hopes to dramatically increase access to and use of proven tobacco cessation treatments through this grant program. The focus of the ACTTION State Grants is system and policy change in tobacco cessation, rather than the delivery of programs or direct services. “While the one-time provision of services would help some people quit tobacco, in the long run this will not guarantee that change is institutionalized,” said Rob Gould, President & CEO of Partnership. “We hope the grants will help states take steps toward permanent change in coverage, access, and utilization.”

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Tobacco Control Report Released by CDC to Help States Develop and Implement Plans to Reduce Tobacco Use.

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:03:00 GMT

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FDA poised to save lives by lowering sodium content.

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:03:00 GMT

FDA poised to save lives by lowering sodium content. Read more.
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“The Prevention Dilemma”

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:02:00 GMT

May 24, 2010 -- Gould writes in Kaiser Health News Op Ed. Read more.
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Partnership featured in Inc. Magazine Article on Worksite Wellness

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:02:00 GMT

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Raise Federal Alcohol Tax to Finance Prevention Trust Fund, Partnership Urges House Chairmen

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:10:00 GMT

CONTACT: Damon Thompson
202-997-6125/ dthompson@prevent.org

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2009 – Partnership for Prevention today urged chairmen of the three congressional committees crafting the House version of a health care reform bill to raise the federal excise tax on alcoholic beverages and apply those revenues to a special fund to finance prevention and wellness initiatives.

“Higher alcohol excise taxes are an important tool in reducing the public health toll of alcohol abuse, while also providing a viable and appropriate source of funding to finance reform of our nation’s health system,” Partnership President Robert J. Gould said in a letter to Reps. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), and George Miller (D-CA).

Rangel, Waxman and Miller are chairmen, respectively, of the House Ways and Means Committee, the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee.

In his letter, Gould cited a review of scientific studies by the U.S. Task Force on Community Health Services that found increased taxes or prices on alcoholic beverages are consistently related to a reduction in motor vehicle crashes and deaths, alcohol-impaired driving and death from liver cirrhosis as well as deaths from other causes. Higher alcohol taxes were also demonstrated to reduce the incidence of violence, sexually transmitted diseases, and alcohol dependence.

Gould also noted that federal alcohol excise taxes were last raised in 1991 and have not kept pace with inflation. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that a 20% tax hike on distilled spirits and equalizing the tax rates on other alcoholic beverages would provide $60 billion in new revenue over a decade.

“It is important to note that any tax increase on alcoholic beverages will be paid by a small percentage of the population,” he said. “Nearly three-quarters of American adults abstain from alcohol or drink once a week or less.”

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Partnership for Prevention is a non-profit organization of business, health and government leaders working to make disease prevention and health promotion a national priority.

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