As you begin taking the next step with the OAC, one of the most important steps to be taken this year is in the direction of healthcare reform.

The OAC has been receiving numerous inquiries around the proposed healthcare reform efforts currently being undertaken in Washington, DC and as such, we have created this page to provide those interested in the topic with updates and information. In addition, please check back often for updates to our Calls-to-Action.

The OAC’s focus when talking to elected officials about healthcare reform has been:

• Obesity is a chronic condition that continues to have a growing impact on our society. Therefore, action must be taken to address this epidemic at all levels -- individual, family, community, government, healthcare and insurance.

• Obesity is a complex, multifactoral, and chronic disease, which requires a comprehensive approach to both prevent and treat. Obesity is a major contributor to a large number of preventable deaths in the United States and it usually carries with it a large number of related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, certain cancers, sleep apnea, and arthritis. Therefore, care should not be seen as simply having the goal of reducing body weight, but should additionally be focused on improving overall health and quality of life.

• Treating or addressing obesity among those already obese is difficult. This is clearly demonstrated by the more than 34% of Americans who are currently obese. However challenging though, efforts must be made to both prevent and treat obesity at all stages and in all age groups. Treatment approaches should include: school and community-based programs; lifestyle interventions; educational programs; drug, diet and physician-supervised programs; and surgery. The goals laid out for those who have chosen to address their obesity should focus less on total weight-loss and more on health improvement. We believe such an approach may encourage more consistent and continued individual participation in programs to address obesity – highlighting realistic outcomes and expectations for those affected by obesity.

• Government should take the same serious action regarding obesity as it does with other disease states. Government needs to tap into existing resources, organizations and individuals affected in order to gain a clear understanding of obesity and proven prevention and treatment methods. Government must improve funding for research on obesity as well as the outcomes of any prevention and/or treatment programs attempted. In addition, as obesity is recognized as a significant health epidemic, the National Institutes of Health should form a National Institute of Obesity. In addition, policymakers should develop dynamic new collaborations and collective actions across federal and state agencies, between private and public entities and industries, individuals and communities, which the Institute of Medicine recommends as essential to successfully addressing our country’s obesity epidemic.

• Health insurance should provide care for obesity as a standard benefit – establishing coverage for the most appropriate and proven prevention and treatment methods to address the given stage of overweight or obesity. Recognizing obesity as a chronic condition, insurance should also cover necessary long‐term follow‐up care for obesity treatment. Patients must have access to this comprehensive treatment approach through reasonable means and this access to care should not be hindered by undue tests or prerequisites on the part of the patient.

• While incentive programs should be encouraged, we believe that punitive measures (higher premiums, penalties for non‐participation, etc.) should not be utilized as a catalyst for individuals to address their obesity. Further stigmatization and penalization of this population often elicits a response counter to the goal of
  the original penalty.

For those of you interested in learning more about healthcare reform and the OAC’s activities on this topic, we urge you to check this page frequently. Two resources that you can access immediately include:

• Healthcare Reform Player and Terms – a document featuring the major participants and key language utilized during healthcare reform discussions (click here).

• "Healthcare Reform and How it May Impact Those Affected by Obesity" – A recent article on healthcare reform that was featured in the July issue of OAC News (click here).