24 Jan 2011

Chilly Outdoors Can Offer Fitness Fun, Says TOPS

By Kimberly Greene

MILWAUKEE, WI - During this time of year it's a natural instinct for our bodies to tell us to stay indoors and load up on calories to keep warm and cozy all winter long. But this sort of lifestyle may cause one to pack on the pounds and can lead to a range of health-related concerns.

While some prefer to head to the gym to keep up their fitness routine, Amy Goldwater, M.S., educator, former body-building champion, and physical fitness expert for TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, recommends a list of creative outdoor activities to enjoy with family and friends.

"Fun activities like snowball fights, making snow angels, and building a snowman count as exercise and burn calories," Goldwater notes. "For example, a 150 pound person burns an average of 285 calories per hour building a snowman, 319 calories per hour during that snowball fight, and 214 calories burned per hour making snow angels."

Other winter "fitness" activities to consider include :
• Building a snow fort or igloo;
• Playing chase, tag, or hide and seek;
• Having a scavenger hunt for winter nature items, such as animal tracks, pinecones, or bird nests;
• Shoveling a path in the yard like a maze;
• Setting up an obstacle course in the yard with jumps, tunnels, and other challenges;
• Playing Frisbee/disc golf on a local course or at home.

All of these activities burn significant calories during participation. In fact, an hour of snow shoveling can burn 340 calories.

Traditional outdoor winter activities also are excellent fitness opportunities, according to Goldwater. Ice-skating, hiking in the snow, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, offer great cardiovascular workouts. Remember to dress warmly and in layers; stay hydrated; keep hands, feet, and head warm with outerwear; and keep an eye on the weather forecast for snow and wind chill warnings.

Eat a light snack an hour or two before working out, to add energy and prevent distracting hunger pangs. Ideal snack options should be low-fat and include fruit smoothies; a few handfuls of nuts; hard-boiled eggs; and fast-digesting, high-glycemic fresh fruit like watermelon, grapes, pineapple, and bananas.

"Sunblock is important in the winter, too," Goldwater says. "Using an SPF of 15 or higher will help protect your skin from sunburn that can occur when exercising in snow or high altitudes. Also, don't forget to wear a lip balm that contains sunscreen."

TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the original, nonprofit weight-loss support and wellness education organization, was established more than 63 years ago to champion weight-loss support and success. Founded and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, TOPS promotes successful, affordable weight management with a philosophy that combines healthy eating, regular exercise, wellness information, and support from others at weekly chapter meetings. TOPS has about 170,000 members in nearly 10,000 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. To find a local chapter, view www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.

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24 Jan 2011

Statement from Governor Quinn in Support of Affordable Care Act

By Andrew Mason

CHICAGO - January 19, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today released a statement in support of the federal Affordable Care Act:

"The Affordable Care Act has already provided Illinois with many of the tools and resources needed to ensure that more of our families and employers have access to important health care benefits and consumer protections.

Through Illinois' federally-funded high risk pool, we have secured health coverage and financial security for more than 1,000 people who were denied coverage by health insurance companies because of pre-existing conditions. We are currently expanding that program to ensure access to affordable and comprehensive health coverage for even more individuals who have been denied private coverage.

We have seen 121,000 Illinois seniors receive $250 rebate checks to help cover the costs of prescription drugs. And health insurance companies must now cover immunizations, mammograms and other important preventative care procedures without charging the high deductibles and co-payments that once deterred consumers from routine checkups.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more students graduating from college in Illinois can remain covered under their parents' health insurance policies. And children in Illinois can no longer be denied health coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

We intend to implement the Affordable Care Act so that our families and employers have appropriate health care options and much-needed financial security. Everyone in Illinois deserves access to meaningful and affordable health care.

I urge the 112th Congress to move this country forward in positive, constructive debate focused on affordable health care for all Americans, rather than re-visiting the politics of the past."

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24 Jan 2011

Harkin: Repeal Would Deny Coverage to Millions of Americans with Preexisting Conditions

By Sen. Tom Harkin
WASHINGTON - January 18, 2011 - Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) released the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services released a new report showing that, without the Affordable Care Act, up to 129 million Americans under the age of 65 who have a pre-existing health condition would be at risk of losing health insurance when they need it most, or be denied coverage:  

"The report released today by the Department of Health and Human Services reconfirms the vital importance of the Affordable Care Act's broad consumer protections.  The Department's analysis shows that up to 129 million Americans under the age of 65 have a preexisting condition, and millions more are likely to develop such a condition in the next eight years.  If Congressional Republicans had their way, these Americans would face denial or restriction of health benefits.  This report makes clear that we can't afford to deprive half of Americans under the age of 65 of this vital protection."

The HHS report comes on the same day of a new Associated Press-GfK poll that shows opposition to the Affordable Care Act diminishing among Americans.  

Last week, Harkin announced that the HELP Committee will hold a series of hearings to examine how the Affordable Care Act is benefiting Americans.  The first hearing will be held on January 27.
11 Jan 2011

Statement from Governor Pat Quinn On the Legislative Passage of Major Medicaid Reform

By Andrew Mason

SPRINGFIELD - January 6, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today issued a statement on the General Assembly's passage of Medicaid reform legislation.

"Today is an important day for our state. For too long we have simply talked about Medicaid reform; today we are following through with legislation that will help stabilize our budget and rebuild the foundations of our economy. This bill will streamline services and eliminate inefficiencies, saving the state hundreds of millions of dollars. In addition, it will improve efficiency in the program to ensure that Medicaid patients in Illinois are receiving the highest quality of care.

"This bill reflects a truly bipartisan effort by our General Assembly. I would like to thank the Medicaid reform committees, as well as bill sponsors Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, Representative Patti Bellock, Senator Heather Steans and Senator Dale Righter for their dedication; their support was critical in my administration's drive to pass this legislation. Thanks also to my healthcare advisor Michael Gelder and Healthcare and Family Services Director Julie Hamos for their tremendous work in crafting and helping pass this bill.

"This is a powerful example of the reforms Illinois needs to stabilize its budget, and the kind of legislation I will continue to work with the General Assembly to pass. I look forward to receiving this bill from the legislature and acting on it soon."

 

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03 Jan 2011

MAKING TIME FOR 2011 RESOLUTIONS

By Laurie Johns

I've been mulling over something a very smart co-worker said to me this week: time is relative.  It moves faster or slower depending on your age, your work load and enjoyment of whatever you're doing at the moment.

If you are my approximate age and grew up on a farm, you probably remember how long summers used to last when you spent day after sweaty day walking beans or de-tasseling corn.  The start of school (and an end to the 12-hour chore days) seemed to take forever.

For proof of the "relativity of time" theory, look no further than your children.  Every mother thinks time stands still when faced with a colicky infant, sleep deprivation and potty training.   But what about when they're teenagers?  Every time I look at my daughter (now 13 and taller than me), I'm convinced she should still be five, holding my hand to cross a parking lot and totally in love with her parents (sigh).

According to psychologist Philip Zimbardo, it's not just 13-year-olds who need to sloooooow down; it's us (http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/time-is-relative/?emc=eta1). We probably don't need some psychologist brainiac to tell us all that we eat too fast, work too long, worry too much.  We spend too little time sitting down to dinner together.  We sacrifice our friends, our family and our sleep in order to "get ahead" in our jobs.  According to the latest statistics, only 20 percent of households sit down and have dinner together.

One thing is for certain: as fast as time goes by at our age (mine anyway), there IS no going back.  So, as we look ahead to 2011, how about making a couple resolutions to help us all make time a little more meaningfully.  Here's my short list of 2011 Resolutions:

1)      I resolve to do everything slower: walking, talking, breathing, praying; you know, the Big Stuff.

2)      I resolve to tell my family members every day that I love them.  Let me just say that anyone with a surly teenager at home knows this can sometimes be harder than it sounds (sigh).

3)      I resolve to let my dog take his time to check out evvvverrrything on our morning walks.  At least once a week, anyway (sorry, Spot).

4)      I resolve to chew my food.  Slowly.  No more burgers wolfed down at my desk while I "work through lunch".  Sure, it's not practical every day, but a recent dinner with friends at a new French restaurant in Des Moines (http://tinyurl.com/2wuojrj) convinced me that there is beauty in planning and enjoying a slowly and carefully-prepared meal.  I need to take time to actually taste and enjoy my food!

5)      And finally, I resolve to share even more stories of Iowans who DO take their time doing what's right in the name of putting food on ALL our tables: farmers.  Farmers, more than anyone else, understand the theory of "relative time."  Their technology has evolved faster than our nation's space program, yet the raw materials at their disposal remain unchanged: soil, water, work ethic.  Technology can shorten a growing season, increase yields or improve the nutrition of a chicken egg, but it can't change values.  Values of good farmers don't change.  Let's hope we all resolve to remember that in 2011.  Happy New Year!

 

Laurie Johns is Public Relations Manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau.                        12/31/2010

30 Dec 2010

Harkin: America Rings in the New Year with New Health Reform Benefits

By Sen. Tom Harkin

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Americans across the country prepare to welcome the New Year, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) today highlighted new health care benefits that will take effect on New Year's Day.  These new provisions, established by the Affordable Care Act, will require insurance companies to give Americans better value for their premium dollars and provide seniors with discounts on prescription drugs and free preventive care.   

"What many Americans may not know is that as they're ringing in the New Year, they're also ringing in important new health care benefits created by the Affordable Care Act," said Chairman Harkin.  "Starting Saturday, insurance companies will be required to dedicate at least 80 percent of health care premiums to actual health care services rather than profits or executive salaries - and if they don't comply, their customers will get a refund.  Meanwhile, our senior citizens will be able to get big discounts on their prescriptions and free preventive care to keep them healthy."       

The Affordable Care Act was signed on March 23, 2010 by President Obama.  Harkin, as Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, played a pivotal role in the bill's passage and was on hand for the bill signing.

Among other new protections taking effect on January 1, the health care law will:

  • Give Americans Better Value for Their Premium Dollars - Insurance companies will now be required to spend 85 percent of all premium dollars collected for large employer plans on health care and improving quality of care.  For plans sold to individuals and small employers, at least 80 percent of the premium must be spent on benefits and quality improvement.  If insurance companies do not meet these goals because their administrative costs or profits are too high, they must provide rebates to consumers.
  • Offer Prescription Drug Discounts to Seniors - Seniors who reach the Medicare coverage gap known as the "donut hole" will receive a 50 percent discount on prescription drugs covered by Medicare Part D.
  • Provide Free Preventive Care to Seniors - Seniors on Medicare will now be offered free preventive services, such as annual wellness visits and personalized prevention plans.

For a full list of provisions taking effect on January 1, please visit Healthcare.gov: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html and for more information on the Affordable Care Act, please visit http://www.healthcare.gov/, http://www.whitehouse.gov/HealthReform or http://harkin.senate.gov/.
23 Dec 2010

BAUCUS, GRASSLEY CALL FOR IMPROVED BUDGET PLANNING AMONG MEDICARE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS

By Grassley Press

Finance Leaders Release GAO Report Indicating Better Guidelines for Budget Planning Are Needed

Washington, DC - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today called for new guidelines to be set for Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) so the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) can ensure QIO funds are spent properly.  QIOs are organizations within each state contracted by Medicare to, among other things, determine the quality of services delivered to Medicare beneficiaries through quality-of-care reviews.  Baucus and Grassley called for improved budget planning today after releasing a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report which indicated that the methods QIOs use to determine and report the total costs of quality-of-care reviews currently vary among states.  The GAO found that clearer and more specific guidelines for the budget-writing process would better ensure that Medicare dollars are being well-used to improve quality of care for seniors.

"This report demonstrates the need for a sound budget development plan that guarantees that not one dollar of the Medicare Trust Fund goes to waste," said Baucus. "Reviewing the quality of care of health care providers plays a critical role in ensuring that seniors are treated fairly and have access to high quality care.  The money we spend to ensure quality health care should make people healthier and effective budget guidelines from Medicare will certainly contribute to making sure we meet that goal."

 

"There isn't a good system for the QIOs to keep track of what they find, meaning the value of their work cannot be determined," Grassley said. "It might be that CMS is overpaying for these services.  CMS has to do a better job of tracking this work so it can pay the appropriate amount and so taxpayers get what they're paying for, which is better quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries.  Improving its oversight of Medicare contractors is something CMS needs to accomplish, and it's one of my long-time priorities."

Currently, QIOs inform CMS of the total cost of quality-of-care reviews conducted and calculate labor costs therein, but do not follow a standard set of guidelines on how to calculate or provide that information.  As a result, QIOs' reporting systems vary among states, and CMS is unable to guarantee that its three-year QIO budget is appropriate. GAO recommended that CMS create clear instructions specifying how QIOs should detail the volume and costs of their quality-of-care reviews.  Such a standard would allow CMS to develop accurate budgets for quality-of-care reviews.

CMS enters into three-year contracts with QIOs in every state to perform various reviews to help guarantee Medicare dollars are spent wisely and health care providers in each state are maintaining a high standard of care.  Quality-of-care reviews, just one of the reviews QIOs perform, gauge certain measures like the standard of treatment patients receive and Medicare providers' adherence to their patients' medication schedules.  CMS creates a budget to cover the total cost of reviews at each QIO.  The current amount budgeted for all reviews, including quality-of-care reviews, for QIOs in every state is approximately $208 million for the three-year period between 2008 through 2011.

The full text of the GAO report is available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11116r.pdf.

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20 Dec 2010

Achieve 2011 Resolutions with TOPS Strategies

By Kimberly Greene

MILWAUKEE, WI - As shouts of "Happy New Year!" ring out around the world in the earliest moments of 2011, many people also will be making resolutions for something better in the New Year.

While some fall short of accomplishing their January 1 promise, setting smaller, more definite goals is one way to achieve success. TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, shares the following tips for realistically planning - and achieving - one's resolutions:

1.    Be specific
Determine an exact goal. Instead of resolving to lose weight, consider a specific amount or goal weight and time frame, such as losing 20 pounds by the Fourth of July and 20 more pounds by Thanksgiving. No matter what the resolution, setting small goals will be easier to achieve one step at a time.

2.    Make a plan for success
Construct a "road map" as a guide to achieve your goal.  Consider what it will take to accomplish the plan. For example, to lose weight, healthy eating, exercise, and joining a support group like TOPS is paramount. Consider keeping a journal to keep track of progress ups and downs.

3.    Review the plan along the way
Once a week, take time and evaluate progress. Review the journal and determine if the goals need revamping or ramping up. Everyone makes mistakes. When that happens, avoid falling into the traps of shame and guilt.

4.    Keep resolutions realistic
Be realistic in goal setting. If completely eliminating a behavior is too difficult, consider resolving to do it less often. 

5.    Make it personally meaningful
A resolution should be something an individual desires to change or achieve and should not be dictated by family members or what society says is good for you.   Resolutions without strong, personal motivation can be doomed to fail.

6.    Tell others about the resolution
Sharing goals with friends and family can be an outstanding support mechanism and a source of gentle nudging if a detour from the plan takes place.

TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the original, nonprofit weight-loss support and wellness education organization, was established more than 62 years ago to champion weight-loss support and success.  Founded and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, TOPS promotes successful, affordable weight management with a philosophy that combines healthy eating, regular exercise, wellness information, and support from others at weekly chapter meetings. TOPS has about 170,000 members in nearly 10,000 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. To find a local chapter, view www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.

###

16 Dec 2010

Delta Dental Awards 25 IOWA Agencies Over $144,000 for Oral Health Projects

By Liz Brower

Johnston, IA (December 16, 2010) - The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation awarded $144,765 to 25 Iowa agencies to improve the oral health of Iowans through its mini-grant program.

The Foundation awards mini-grants twice a year in May and October.  Mini-grants are intended to support one-time oral health projects, such as workshops or conferences, or short-term projects of up to one-year in duration, such as a survey, data collection or research study. These grants are also used to stimulate long-term oral health projects and may be combined with funds from other sources.

"The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation's mission is to support and improve the oral health of Iowans," said Donn Hutchins, president of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation.  "The mini-grant program is a great example of how the Foundation can support a variety of oral health projects throughout the state that make a measurable difference in the oral health of Iowans."

The agencies being awarded mini-grants by the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation in 2010 include :

  • Davenport, Edgerton Women's Health Center - $3,000 for "Start Them Young," oral health care for infants and toddlers.
  • Quad Cities, Bethany for Children & Families - $9,000 for "Give Kids a Smile" dental program.
  • Clinton & Jackson Counties, Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa - $3,000 for I-SmileTM oral health project.
  • Creston, Matura Action Corporation - $5,000 for sealant program equipment.
  • Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College - $10,000 for "Smiling through Prevention" program.
  • Des Moines, AIDS Project of Central Iowa - $5,500 for the "Living with HIV: Oral Care Case Management" program.
  • Des Moines, Children and Families of Iowa - $6,000 for methamphetamine oral health education.
  • Des Moines, Drake University Head Start - $3,000 for "Healthy Head Start Smiles" program.
  • Des Moines, Mercy Foundation - $1,000 for "Keeping Smiles Bright" program.
  • Des Moines, Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa - $4,000 for oral health supplies for I-SmileTM "Summer Splash" and "Give Kids a Smile Day 2011" programs.
  • Dubuque, Crescent Community Health Center - $3,000 for "Miles of Smiles" program.
  • Forest City, Winnebago County Public Health - $500 for dental education and prevention program.
  • Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College - $6,200 for preventive oral health projects.
  • Glenwood, Mills County Public Health - $3,000 for "In the Family Way" program.
  • Hiawatha, Hawkeye Area Community Action Program of Linn County - $1,500 for Head Start oral health project.
  • Iowa City, Iowa Student Dental Association and Hispanic Dental Association - $6,000 to create pediatric educational oral health resource materials in Spanish.
  • Iowa City, University of Iowa College of Dentistry - $3,500 for "Oh, Give Me a Home..." project, $6,500 for CDC's CVD/Oral Health/Tobacco cessation initiative, $10,000 for Special Health Care Needs dental flip chart project, and $3,729 for Pediatric Dentistry Residency program.
  • Statewide, Iowa Department of Public Health - $9,900 for I-Smile™ outreach to low-income, pregnant women.
  • Statewide, Iowa Dental Association - $10,000 for the 2010 Annual Conference Guest Lecture Series.
  • Statewide, Iowa Dental Hygienist's Association - $3,000 for Iowa Dental Hygienist's Association annual session.
  • Marshalltown, Mid-Iowa Community Action, Inc. - $6,291 for maternal and child health dental program.
  • Mason City, Mercy Medical Center North Iowa - $10,000 for North Iowa Dental Clinic for the uninsured and underinsured.
  • Mason City, North Iowa Community Action Organization - $1,500 for Family Health Center - oral health prevention and education.
  • Ottumwa, River Hills Community Health Center - $9,645 for Ottumwa and Keokuk County Schools sealant and fluoride varnish program.
  • Ottumwa, Iowa Rural Health Education Partnership (IRHEP) and South Central Area Health Education Center (SC Iowa AHEC) - $1,000 for "Power of Sour" program.

Delta Dental of Iowa is the largest and most experienced provider of dental benefits in the state. As a not-for-profit, Delta Dental of Iowa invests in oral health projects through the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation that focus on access to care, prevention, education and research. The Iowa company is a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association, a national organization of not-for-profit Delta Dental plans. The national association is the largest dental benefits carrier in the nation providing coverage to 54 million people in more than 93,600 employer groups.

#   #   #

16 Dec 2010

In Iowa's Interest: Just Before Christmas, Child Nutrition Bill Becomes Law

By Rick Martin
By Senator Tom Harkin

With Christmas and holiday celebrations just around the corner, it can be easy to forget that our country is currently fighting two food-related epidemics.  We have rising rates of diet-related chronic disease, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, while at the same time many families cannot afford to provide their children with consistent, healthy meals.  But recently enacted legislation will provide new tools in each of these fights.  Congress recently passed, and the President signed into law, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.  This bill will go a long way in ensuring that not only do our kids have enough to eat, but that they receive food that points them toward a healthier, brighter future.

This fiscally responsible and bipartisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act reauthorizes the nation's major Federal child nutrition programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  These are programs like the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs that help ensure kids from all economic backgrounds are not denied access to nutritious and fulfilling meals.  And to address the growing number of underserved kids, the bill provides $4.5 billion in additional funding over the next 10 years - nearly ten times the amount of money provided for the previous child nutrition reauthorization, and the largest new investment in child nutrition programs since their inception.

In addition to helping feed our children, one of the major provisions of the bill - and one I have worked on for over a decade - will put into place common-sense nutrition standards for the foods and beverages sold in schools.  We all love delicious snacks and treats at home during the holiday season, but when kids are at school this bill will help make the healthy choice, the easy choice.  This is to help support the efforts of parents who work hard to feed their kids nutritious meals and who do not want these efforts undermined when their kids go to school.  In fact, we know that it's the choice that parents around the country prefer - survey after survey shows that parents support school nutrition standards at school that reinforce the healthy choices that parents try to make for their kids at home.

While there is more that we must do to fight childhood obesity, and at the same time ensure that no American child is going to bed hungry, this bill certainly takes important steps in the right direction and I will continue to fight in Washington towards these goals.  And while there is much to be done, as we all sit down for our holiday meals, may we not forget all the many blessings we do have here in Iowa and in America.  From my family to yours- happy holidays.

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A PDF version of the column is available by clicking here.

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