State Sees Some Obesity Progress
California is making some headway on childhood obesity, with the percentage of overweight and obese children in the state dropping 1.1% from 2005 to 2010, according to a report from the University of California, Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Research and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy. The report credited the slight decrease to local policies and programs to improve access to playgrounds and other open spaces, to increase the availability of healthy foods, and to educate the public on the dangers of childhood obesity. Still, 31 of California's 58 counties experienced an increase in their childhood overweight and obesity rates during the 6-year study period. Statewide, 38% of public school students in the fifth, seventh, and ninth grades were overweight or obese in 2010, the report said.
New Tools for Health Advice
To help physicians discuss healthy lifestyles and physical activity with their adult patients, the American Medical Association has released continuing medical education materials including videos and patient handouts. “By using these tools, physicians will gain a better understanding of why patients make unhealthy decisions and will learn how to initiate conversations about healthy eating and physical activity,” said AMA President Dr. Peter W. Carmel in a statement. Study and use of the materials have been certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. They are available at
AMA Says Tone Down the Energy
Caffeinated, sugary, “energy” drinks such as Red Bull, Rockstar, Monster, and Full Throttle need closer scrutiny, said the AMA House of Delegates at its interim meeting last month. The association's Michigan delegation introduced the successful resolution. The state is one of several that have banned “Four Loko,” a drink that is similar but includes alcohol. The energy drinks can be dangerous when combined with alcohol, according to the resolution. It also urged the FDA to regulate the drinks and to seek federal legislation to mandate warning labels listing potential side effects, “particularly when combined with alcohol.”
More Docs Using E-Rx
Just over half of all office-based physicians are sending prescriptions electronically, according to statistics from the e-prescription network Surescripts. That percentage is up from 36% at the end of 2010 and just 10% in 2008. “This represents one of the most significant milestones achieved to date in the nationwide effort to adopt and achieve meaningful use of health information technology,” according to Harry Totonis, president and CEO of Surescripts. E-prescribing is one of the requirements for physicians to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid health IT incentive payments, in order to meet meaningful use standards for electronic medical records. States with the highest rates of e-prescribing were Massachusetts, Delaware, Michigan, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, according to Surescripts.
Medical Homes a Challenge
Nearly half of physician practices do not meet national standards to qualify as patient-centered medical homes, according to a study from the University of Michigan Health System. Nearly three-quarters of multispecialty groups would meet criteria of the National Committee on Quality Assurance, but only half of solo and partnership practices meet those standards, the researchers reported. About 40% of primary care practices would not qualify as a medical home under the current standards. Market forces pushing patients toward medical homes might force practices to close that don't have the infrastructure to qualify, said Dr. John Hollingsworth, the study's lead author. This could disproportionately affect patients in rural areas, and policy makers should address the challenges facing small and rural practices, the researchers said in their report.
Insurance Competition Low
Four out of five U.S. metropolitan areas lack a competitive health insurance market, according to an analysis from the AMA. In addition, in about half of all metropolitan markets, one health insurer controls 50% or more of the market. In half the states, competition is limited to two health insurers who together control about 70% of the market. According to the study, Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Michigan, Hawaii, the District of Columbia, Nebraska, North Carolina, Indiana, and Maine have the least competitive health insurance markets in the country.