The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee just released a draft of a health care reform bill (minus the ‘public option’ that will hopefully be part of the final plan).
Section C of Title III is entitled Creating Healthier Communities, with “Community Transformation Grants” as a centerpiece. (Page 382-387 of the draft.)
The grants would be awarded and administered by the Dept of HHS and the CDC. Awardees (limited to state and local govts and national coalitions of community groups- this should be broadened) would create Community Transformation Plans to address issues such as:
(i) creating healthier school environments including increasing healthy food options, physical activity opportunities, promotion of healthy lifestyle and prevention curricula, and activities to prevent
chronic diseases;
(ii) creating the infrastructure to support active living and access to nutritious foods in a safe environment;
(iii) developing and promoting programs targeting a variety of age levels to increase access to nutrition, physical activity and smoking cessation, enhance safety in a community, or address any other chronic disease priority area identified by the grantee;
(iv) assessing and implementing worksite wellness programming and incentives;(v) working to highlight healthy options at restaurants and other food venues;
(vi) prioritizing strategies to reduce racial and ethnic disparities, including social determinants of health; and
(vii) addressing the needs of special populations, including all ages groups and individuals with disabilities.
The draft bill would also follow California in requiring chain restaurants with more than 20 locations to display nutrition information.
Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) who is the ranking Republican senator on the committee, issued a press release bravely attacking playgrounds and grocery stores:
“The Kennedy-Dodd bill will pave sidewalks, build jungle gyms, and open grocery stores, but it won’t bring down health care costs or make quality coverage more affordable,” Enzi said. “In a time of record debt and deficits, how can Democrats justify the wasteful spending in this bill?
Health care in the United States is expensive and mediocre by international comparison partly because we skimp on prevention so I’ll be rooting for more places to play, more places to buy healthy food, and more walkable, bikeable streets- communities transformed into healthier, more livable places.
