Dems Continue to Make Health Reform Their Own (with video)

By David Pittman, Washington Correspondent, MedPage Today

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Day Two at the Democratic National Convention saw continued focus on health in general and the Affordable Care Act in particular.

Party leaders spoke for almost 2 hours on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) at an event hosted by the left-leaning consumer advocacy group Families USA and the Service Employees International Union.

They cited coverage of pre-existing conditions for children, closing the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole,” free preventive services, and the capability to keep kids on their parent’s health plan until age 26 as examples of ACA benefits that have already gone into effect.

The event featured key players in the battle to pass the ACA including Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Speaker of the House of Representatives at the time; Nancy-Ann DeParle, then director of the White House’s Office of Health Reform; and Vicki Kennedy, widow of former Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.).

Many speakers touched on health-care reform in speeches during the first evening of the convention, but the Families USA event reinforced the notion that the Democrats are making health-care and health-care reform a key piece of the party message.

At a separate event Wednesday, the National Journal and The Atlantic hosted a panel discussion on building healthier communities, at which former CDC director and Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, PhD, and others discussed ways to cut chronic disease through healthy behaviors.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak stated schools play an important role and need to begin paying more for healthier foods.

Satcher praised the efforts of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for trying to ban sugary drinks and change people’s habits. “Many of us are addicted to salts, fats, and sweets,” stated Satcher, who served under President Clinton.

Two-thirds of American are overweight or obese, leading to a higher prevalence of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even cancer, Johnson & Johnson Vice President Peter Fasolo said. Each year, 75% of health spending goes to chronic illnesses, many caused by poor health habits.

Communities can play their part, he said. For example, in west Philadelphia, small refrigerators are being given out to corner convenience stores to help them sell fresh fruits and vegetables.

Employee wellness programs — such as monetary rewards for people who quit smoking or lose weight, or higher insurance premiums for those who do not — have been shown in multiple studies to work, Fasolo said.

is MedPage Today’s Washington Correspondent, following the intersection of policy and healthcare. He covers Congress, FDA, and other health agencies in Washington, as well as major health-care events. David holds bachelors’ degrees in journalism and chemistry from the University of Georgia and previously worked at the Amarillo Globe-News in Texas, Chemical & Engineering News and most recently FDAnews.

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Submited at Thursday, September 6th, 2012 at 12:15 am on Uncategorized by jessica
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