ArCOP’s Health Care Team was established to address health care supportive services for individuals who are obese.  The Health Care Team’s initial goal was to establish a network of providers (registered dietitians, nurses, health educators, exercise specialists, medical doctors, etc.) to provide comprehensive treatment upon referral.

In 2011, the team re-focused it’s efforts to address provider education and improving the quality of care for individuals who are obese.  Activities include promoting motivational interviewing in health care settings and health care advocacy, utilizing best practices (including IOM recommendations), offering continued medical education (CME) training to health care professionals, and implementing strategies for reimbursement for services.

One of the primary policy opportunities the Health Care Team will work to achieve is expanding insurance coverage for obesity treatment and prevention.  By engaging health providers and collaborating with employers and other purchasers of health coverage, along with insurance companies and other payers, the long-term health care expense resulting from obesity and related chronic disease will be reduced.

ArCOP’s Health Care Team is currently composed of twenty-four members who have an individual interest in this issue or who represent public and private health care organizations around the state.  A workplan is being developed to direct efforts over the next few years and to incorporate and address Healthy People 2020 objectives.

Team Meetings:

Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. in room 2512 at the Arkansas Department of Health, 4815 W. Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205

Arkansas Legislation Enacted to Address Obesity

Act 855 of 2011 requires health benefit plans to provide coverage for the treatment of morbid obesity.

Resources

National Quality Strategy http://www.healthcare.gov/center/reports/quality03212011a.html

Arkansas Obesity Burden Report

Clinical Guidelines for Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obese Adults from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_home.htm

2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010-PolicyDocument.htm

A Model for Chronic Care of Obesity Through Dietary Treatment, Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Volume 98, Issue 10, Supplement , Pages S16-S22, October 1998

Pocket Guide -  The Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2010 – 2011, Recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/pocketgd.htm

Treatment of Obesity in Primary Care Practice in the United States: A Systematic Review,Journal of General Internal Medicine ,Volume 24, Number 9, 1073-1079, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-009-1042-5.

Affordable Care Act. www.healthcare.gov/law/introduction/index.html