Today, Christina Metzler and I had the opportunity to attend a session entitled "Bring on the Boomers : Exploring policy changes for the next administration," hosted by PattonBoggs LLC, the firm who played a key role in helping to resolve the 75% rule. We heard from panelists including Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi of California; Jennifer Friedman, professional staff to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health; Piper Su, legislative counsel to Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado; and Billy Wynne, health policy counsel to the Senate Finance Committee. Discussions surrounded challenges and potential solutions to Medicare, S-CHIP re-authorization, and health care reform. Some topics of discussion between participants and panelists specifically regarding health care reform included insurance market reform, risk pooling, individual responsibility, tax treatment of health care, and prevention. On the topic of prevention, two diagnoses received more extensive discussion including obesity and diabetes. The session concluded with discussions of overall health care reform versus incremental reform.
For occupational therapy, I believe a key here was prevention and developing further what our role can and will be as health care reform moves forward. If you have any ideas on occupational therapy's role in prevention as it relates to obesity, diabetes, or just overall prevention please post them here as discussion is welcome!
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6 comments:
Hi Amy (and Christina),
I am enjoying reading your blogs, and am glad that, as a professional association, we are supporting the candidates who support our vision, and also providing education to those who might not know who we are / what we do (yet!).
I am sure that you are highlighting all the wonderful things that occupational therapy practitioners are doing to promote the health and well-being of all citizens of the United States (regardless of political beliefs), but that we need the support of our elected officials to reach the individuals who rely on government-supported programs to access our services, as well as the need for health promotion initiatives that include occupational therapy interventions.
Keep up the good work!
Lisa
Lisa Ann Fagan, MS, OTR/L
Chair, AOTA Home & Community Health SIS
Community based programs (have it required as part of school projects),AND/OR an OT could start/create a write-in column like "Dear Abby" with helpful preventative tips.
What would we then be PROMOTING? (Mother Theresa said, "I'll never march against anything. Only for something.) We need to gain a specific "FOR" focus instead of just being AGAINST obesity and diabetes.
Mo in Om
Obesity and diabetes are both health conditions about which there is much information avaiable... who amongst us doesn't know that the keys are eating less in general (while eating more fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean protien and whole grains)...
The real key is in the DOING... establishing routines for exercise/walking, learning how to prepare simple but nutrritious meals instead of using the fast food drive-thru...
It's the DOING part where we as a profession offer the most promise. We can help individuals and populations develop the habits and routines to support their health and wellness.
Just my thoughts,
Lisa
Amy and Christina,
I am eager to hear more details about their ideas on healthcare reform. Did they discuss universal healthcare? Certainly, there is a significant need for insurance market reform and changes to our Medicare Part C (risk/advantage) programs.
I like the direction of health promotion and preventative care. I think Lisa had great comments on how we can get started as OTs. Would falls preevention be included in what they were discussing?
I am loving the blogs Amy – Good Job!
Keep promoting occupational therapy and living life to its fullest!
Monica Robinson
Ohio
Mo in Om brings up a great point encouraging us to be for something instead of against something. To be proactive instead of reactive.
Lisa you too hit on a great point that it is the DOING that our profession can have the niche especially as it relates to helping people develop the habits and routines necessary. What a great unique fit to remind people of.
Monica,
Health care reform is a key topic we hear all over. Not a lot of details in terms of what that will look like. I believe the debate on health care will help formulate the issue better for health care providers so I encourage everyone to dial into the health care debate between our presidential candidates.
Amy
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