We have been asked to share the AND Public Policy Workshop Sunday Edition of articles from PPW TODAY. You can read them below. Enjoy!
Treat and Reduce Obesity Act: RDNs are a Cost Effective and Clinically Effective Solution to the Obesity Problem
Today, PPW attendees will learn about an exciting bipartisan bill that would help improve the health of millions of seniors, the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act. This legislation would allow RDNs and other experts to provide and independently bill for intensive behavioral therapy to Medicare beneficiaries with obesity. The bill would also allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive safe, FDA-approved obesity management drugs to be taken in conjunction with intensive behavioral therapy.
The Academy continues to work with both Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to open new areas of coverage for RDN-provided nutrition services. Senator Carper from Delaware and Representative Cassidy, MD from Louisiana have been champions in pushing for RDNs to be able to provide these cost-effective, clinically-effective services. For their support, they will be recognized at PPW as recipients of the Public Policy Leadership Award.
Take Action: At PPW or At Home
Tell your members of Congress about the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act by sending them a letter:
http://www.eatright.org/members/actioncenter.aspx
Preventive Health Savings Act: Prevention Takes Time, But It’s Worth It!
It’s being called one of the most important bills in Congress to advance public health and the public policy priorities of the Academy. The Preventive Health Savings Act fixes the narrow budgeting system used by Congress to assess the impact of prevention efforts. Currently, prevention programs are assessed on a 5-10 year time period, which does not allow enough time to demonstrate initiatives’ beneficial impact.
The Preventive Health Savings Act would allow the budgeting process, done by the Congressional Budget Office, to take into account the savings that prevention efforts accrue over a 30 year time period. Changing behavior, like improving diet or increasing physical activity, takes time. But it is worth it for it reduces the onset of costly chronic disease.
As the country’s health system paradigm shifts towards prevention, the Preventive Health Savings Act would allow the budgeting process to more accurately reflect the savings associated with these efforts.
Older Americans Act: Keeping Older Americans Healthy and Independent
The Older Americans Act (OAA) is up for reauthorization and the Academy is preparing its members to advocate for this important piece of legislation.
The OAA was passed into law in 1965 to address inadequate community social services (including nutrition services) for vulnerable older adults. Today, it remains the major vehicle for providing healthy meals and nutrition education to low-income older Americans.
RDNs currently provide a wide variety of services through OAA programs. The Academy wants to ensure that qualified nutrition staff, including RDNs, are included in the reauthorization of the bill at all levels of the aging network. RDNs have an irreplaceable role in OAA nutrition programs, keeping older Americans healthy and independent.