What Have You Got to Lose?
Published April 25, 2013
By Tom Campbell
by Tom Campbell
North Carolina’s official toast boldly proclaims that ours is a state where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great. But we can never be that great state as long as so many of us are so unhealthy.
According to the non-profit United Health Foundation North Carolina ranks 33rd in overall health, continually among the bottom third of states. One in three children is overweight or obese while 26.5 percent of white, 42.9 percent of black and 24.8 percent of Hispanic adults are obese. Twice as many overweight adults have high blood pressure and one in ten adults have diabetes. We rank 31st in physical inactivity. 24.4 percent of non-Hispanic whites and 32.6 percent of non-Hispanic blacks lead sedentary lifestyles.
We are paying a huge price for our poor health. Obese workers have 21 percent higher health costs and will cost employers more than $250,000 in lost productivity over their careers, clogging doctor and hospital waiting rooms. The average health insurance premium for a family of four now costs $15,745. Coupled with the fact that 27.6 percent of North Carolinians under 18 live in poverty and you can understand why 1.5 million under age 65 have no health insurance and even more are on Medicaid.
Here’s the good news. 53 percent of all deaths and a large percentage of chronic health conditions are preventable, but the cures won’t come from new wonder drugs, medical procedures and certainly not from government. For too long we, as individuals, have failed to understand and be proactive in our own health outcomes.
A new statewide healthcare initiative, A Healthier NC, has been launched following a day-long healthcare forum and a yearlong collaboration of leading health professionals. This campaign has four main elements. The first step is to educate citizens to know what healthy looks like. Too many of us don’t know our blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index and blood sugar numbers. Many of the 1.2 North Carolinians with pre-diabetes or diabetes are not even aware of it. Step two is to inform people of their responsibility in better health and lower costs, followed by education on smart access to healthcare. For too many the emergency department is the first line of care, but is also the most expensive. A relationship with a personal physician will lead to better health and lower costs.
One reality of healthcare isn’t often discussed. While doctors and hospitals are good at curing illnesses they are not good at treating behavioral issues. Weight loss, increased physical activity and breaking addictions to smoking, alcohol and drugs require a strong support group. Individuals need to join together through businesses, neighbors and civic and religious groups to help each other.
To make this both fun and demonstrate results the exciting element in this campaign is a statewide healthcare challenge. A Healthier NC’s goal is to involve 1 million North Carolinians in 15 million hours of activity with the goal of losing 10 million pounds of weight. This challenge was patterned after one in Oklahoma City, where the mayor challenged that city to lose one million pounds…and they did.
We can do better. We can be healthier and greatly reduce healthcare costs. Get started by visiting the website Ahealthiernc.com. What have you got to lose?
April 25, 2013 at 10:20 pm
dj anderson says:
In a nation where the rich get richer while the poor get poorer, with the populist model we will see the healthier get healthier and the sickly getting sicker. In other words, if this voluntary PR drive works, the divide is going to grow, but more will be healthy and fewer poor.
Maybe we should consider taking soda and chips, cookies and ice cream off the list of what food stamps will buy, or only give food money to those losing too much weight? I don't know how we stop the rich from eating too much. But Ben Franklin said the way for a rich man to be healthy was to eat, drink and work like a poor man. That was before food stamps.
April 25, 2013 at 10:34 pm
Tom Hauck says:
Here is some information that may interest you.
The savings are so great ($750 Billion or more than our defense budget), that I am suspicious that they are incorrect or conversely if we begin to apply them, that would cause great financial dislocation to a large part of our economy.
The first two links are reports by experts -- the first, an article in the NY Times by Dr. Donald Berwick, the former head of CMS (Medicare and Medicaid) as he was leaving CMS, and the second link is to a report of a formal study by the IOM or Institute of Medicine -- the health part of the National Academies of Science.
These two links support each other and state that about 25 % to 30 % of the medical expenditures each year are wasted and the total annual waste is about $750 Billion (with a B). The two reports also provide examples of the waste and how to avoid the additional costs.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/health/policy/parting-shot-at-waste-by-key-obama-health-official.html
http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2012/Best-Care/BestCareReportBrief.pdf
This third link is an IOM graphic showing the difference between medical care in the US and other, more competitive, industries.
http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2012/Best-Care-at-Lower-Cost-The-Path-to-Continuously-Learning-Health-Care-in-America/Infographic.aspx
This fourth link is reporting on 135 medical tests that are normally requested but, according to the individual Medical Associations, are often unnecessary or cheaper alternatives are available. They are being reported as part of reducing the $750 Billion in waste. These are being prepared and disseminated with the help of the Consumer Reports organization.
http://bighealthreport.com/7079/doctors-identify-more-than-130-tests-and-treatments-they-do-often-unnecessarily/
Here is the web site that provides information -- for free -- about over used medical tests etc. http://consumerhealthchoices.org/
It lists, for free, the test, medicine, or procedure in English or often in Spanish.
There has been a lot of talk about the very lengthy Time magazine article by Stephen Brill. Here is the link, in case you have not read it and want to.
http://healthland.time.com/2013/02/20/bitter-pill-why-medical-bills-are-killing-us/
Here is a link to his bibliography.
http://law.duke.edu/fac/havighurst/bibliography/
Holman says" Your time might be better spent reading Duke University's Clark Havinhurst in a brilliant 2002 article that describes the regulatory, legal and tax subsidies that deprive consumers of both the incentive and opportunity to demand value from medical providers, Americans end up with a "Hobson's choice: either coverage for 'Cadillac' care or no health coverage at all".
Holman also refers to Berkeley economist, James C. Robinson, who also explains the cost of medical care.
April 28, 2013 at 7:31 pm
ed says:
Yes, there is much to be done to improve health of citizens of the state.
Challenges work somewhat, much better than not trying, but they only reach a small portion of the population even with heavy advertising. A large portion of those you interest become dormant over a short period of time.
I believe the only way you can influence peoples health for a longer period of time is to make it a mandatory subject in school. Start in grade one where the children are most impressionable and continue the subject throughout the school years. As the young one come home with the health news they will prattle at the parent about what they learned. Mother will hear the news about good eating habits and probably change some foods to keep the children happy.
There should also be a test each semester which shows that the student at least paid attention to the subject. If they do not pass make them take the subject over again - maybe immediately in after normal school hour times. Failing a few should send a message to the rest of the student to pay attention. Failing is not cool.
Best of luck.
