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CMorrison
Catherine
Morrison

Part I: Public Health in Philadelphia

Monday, November 9th, 2009

The 137th American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo has kicked off in Philadelphia! Three Spectrum team members have joined over 10,000 physicians, administrators, nurses, educators, researchers, and other public health practitioners. This year's meeting is "Water & Public Health," with many sessions focused on water conservation and pollution issues. 09_logo_4color

Among a powerful line-up of speakers, Sunday's opening session featured EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, and the newly confirmed U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin. Jackson fired up the crowd by saying the public health community is the most dedicated group of environmentalists. Dr. Benjamin spoke about the importance of prevention "at all levels," and the role water can play in a person's health - just as important, she said, as a prescription.

After the opening session, we visited The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future's booth (1652), where live tweets are broadcasting on a screen using the hashtag #APHA09.

So far, we've attended section events for Population, Reproduction, and Sexual Health and Food & Nutrition. There will be so much more to come so make sure to follow us on Twitter to get live updates about what is going on the conference: @Allisonrbrown & @Kate_Morrison & @Plourde

-Allison Brown, Kate Morrison, and Christina Plourde

Posted in Health Policy, Public Affairs, Public Health, Research, Technology, Tweets
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CMorrison
Catherine
Morrison

More Evidence on Menu Labeling

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

In early October, a study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation revealed menu labeling did not affect decision making about food choices. These results were disappointing - as cities around the country have rushed to pass initiatives in order to provide consumers more information when purchasing food away from the home.

However, a new study released late last week from The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene provided more encouraging results. Looking at 13 fast-food and coffee chains, the study found recognition of the posted calorie information and statistically significant changes in food purchased at a few of the locations surveyed.

Why the different results? The first study, from researchers at New York University and Yale University, focused entirely on low-income, minority neighborhoods, included fewer establishments and was conducted in a short time span. The City's study was more diverse, had more participants, and was not confined to a specific socioeconomic neighborhood. (more...)

Posted in Health Care Industry, Public Health
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CMorrison
Catherine
Morrison

Evidence Based Menus

Friday, October 9th, 2009

"Is there a healthy future? Obesity and with it diabetes are getting worse. The human and financial costs are enormous. There is emerging evidence based on how to address obesity both from a public health standpoint and from a policy standpoint. I do not think that we can wait for perfect evidence and in fact I think the existence of evidence will be facilitated by action with programs which are implemented and then rigorously evaluated. The question I think before us and what we have to weigh as a group as we consider the weight of the nation is whether we as a society are willing to take the actions necessary to reverse the epidemic of obesity."

That was Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in July of this year at the first ever conference on obesity, The Weight of the Nation, in Washington, DC.  The statement struck me at the time, because the public health community - particularly the academic side - is very focused on the need for evidence.  However, sometimes, you just have to try something and see if it works. The current obesity epidemic couldn't provide better justification for trying new ideas.

(more...)

Posted in Public Affairs, Public Health
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CMorrison
Catherine
Morrison

Health Care Reform: What Gives?

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

In the last week, we saw the official start of the debate on health reform legislation, after months of speculation on its form.  Two pieces of legislation have been released- albeit incomplete, from the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and the trio of Committees with jurisdiction on the House side.  The Senate Finance Committee has delayed the release of its bill until after the July 4 recess; until then we have an outline.  (Here's a chart to help tell the differences).

Conversation continues on how these three bills will converge into one, and form a health policy document that creates real system change.  However, no matter the enrollment strategies or financing mechanism used, health reform, even at its best, will not produce a healthier population.  Even after ten or 15 years with an improved health care infrastructure in the United States, we are not guaranteed to see dramatic shifts in our health outcomes.  What gives?

We are unlikely to see greatly improved outcomes because health is determined by a variety of factors - and medical care is only a small determinant.  Actually, good health is based on a variety of factors including income, education, environmental and social conditions, genetics, and lifestyle choices (Grossman 1972; Pappas 1993; Marra and Boland 1995, and many others).

In recent years, a lot of attention has been paid to the social determinants of health (SDOH): education, crime rates, the availability of parks and grocery stores are just a few.  The figure below demonstrates how SDOH act as "roots" to cultivate the health of a community by providing pathways to either fragmented systems and restricted power or a sense of community and strong social networks towards health outcomes.  The assets determine the pathways and the health outcomes. (more...)

Posted in Congress, Health Care Industry, Health Care Reform, Health Policy, Public Affairs
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CMorrison
Catherine
Morrison

Sin Tax for Health Care: Will it Work?

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

At least once every ten years for the last century, the United States has attempted to reform its health care system.  This decade's attempt is inspired by a new President, a strong Democratic majority, and more than anything, health care costs with no sign of slowing.  Health care spending is growing faster than any other segment of the economy and its only getting worse.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid estimates total health care spending will rise above 20 percent of GDP by 2018.

Policymakers on Capitol Hill are hosting a series of round tables on how to expand access to the nearly 50 million uninsured Americans, improve quality health outcomes, and finally, how to pay for this system change.

On Monday, the leaders of the Senate Finance Committee released the final of three papers on the task of paying for health reform.  The paper details several options to pay for necessary reforms, including health system savings (e.g. eliminating wasteful spending), and taxation ideas (e.g. eliminating health care subsidies).  The committee's third idea, "lifestyle tax proposals," intends to generate new revenue.

Specifically, the Finance Committee is proposing to raise and standardize the tax on alcoholic beverages and create a new excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.   The taxes are designed to discourage unhealthy behaviors which lead to increased health costs through chronic disease.

Sometimes referred to as "sin taxes," excise taxes on tobacco products have proven extremely effective in reducing smoking initiation (especially among adolescents), and helping people quit the habit.  Opponents of tobacco taxes argue these disproportionately impact low-income individuals, as these communities are more sensitive to price changes.  A similar argument can be made of the newest tax ideas.  An added layer, research shows that liquor stores are more prevalent in low-income and minority neighborhoods and grocery stores are just the opposite.  Perhaps a funding initiative to increase healthy choices is the appropriate pathway towards chronic disease prevention.

The most important question - will the experiment work -- how much more are you willing to pay for that Coke-Cola? And since Diet Coke is exempt from the sugar-tax, are you willing to change your behaviors?

Catherine Morrison, Legislative & Public Affairs Associate

Posted in Congress, Health Care Reform, Public Affairs
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