The National Prevention Council Action Plan Partners Conference Call Wednesday, June 13, :00pm PDT/4:00pm EDT

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Erick Perkins
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1 The National Prevention Council Action Plan Partners Conference Call Wednesday, June 13, :00pm PDT/4:00pm EDT Speakers: Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, U.S. Surgeon General Ramona Trovado, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Management Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development Charles Milam Principal Director for Military Community and Family Policy, Department of Defense (DoD) Opening Remarks, Dr. Benjamin Dr. Benjamin began the conference call y providing a synopsis of the National Prevention Council (NPC), the development of the National Prevention Strategies (NPS), and the release of the 2012 Annual Report to Congress and the NPC Action Plan earlier today, Wednesday, June 13. Dr. Benjamin summarized how the creation of the NPC, and subsequently the NPS, were a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the specific role the NPC has in promoting prevention activities around the country due to the changing dynamics in the population, the increase in chronic diseases in the country, the impact these increases in chronic diseases are having on society and the economy, and the urgent need to build a stronger and sustainable health system. The NPC is encompassed by representatives of 17 federal agencies (e.g. DOH, transportation, EPA, DOD, etc.) and chaired by her, the Surgeon General. The NPC release the NPS in June 2011 and its goal is to move from a country of sickness and disease to wellness and prevention. This year, on the first anniversary of the release of the NPS, the NPC released, in conjunction with its Annual report to Congress, an addendum in the form of the NPC Action Plan. The intent of the NPC Action Plan is to highlight, the over 200 prevention efforts, taking place around the country, where the federal government has been working on prevention programs, initiatives, and/or strategies. Dr. Benjamin stated that the NPC commitments and those of each federal agency focus on: Identifying opportunities to consider prevention and health within the National Prevention Council departments and encouraging partners to do so voluntarily as appropriate Increasing tobacco free environments Increasing access to healthy, affordable food Dr. Benjamin provided the following examples of prevention efforts that federal agencies have take, both, on their own and in collaboration with other sister agencies: Safe Routes for School Department of Transportation My Plate Department of Agriculture Million Hearts Campaign Department of Health and Human Services Smoke-Free Multi-Housing Initiative Department of Housing and Urban Development

2 Green Garden Schools Department of Education and Department of Agriculture Let s Move Indian County Department of the Interior and The White House Lets Move DoD Department of Defense and The White House National Forum Youth Violence Department of Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Labor Veterans Living Grants Department of Defense and Department of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Benjamin finalized her segment of the conference call by stating that the NPC Action Plan is intended to be a living document, to be updated with prevention initiatives taking place around the country, and that the Action Plan need strong leaders from local communities, community-based organizations, businesses to lead the effort and be successful. Ramona Trovado, Environmental Protection Agency Ms. Trovado began her section of the conference call by emphasizing that one of the core missions of the EPA is to protect human health. Ms. Trovado noted that the EPA s focus in the NPS is to focus on federal partnerships for sustainable communities. Ms. Trovado provided an overview of different prevention programs and initiatives that the EPA has undertaken within the agency and in conjunction with sister agencies. As an example Ms. Trovado noted that in 1969, 40% of children walked to school; in 2012, only 15% of children did so. For that reason, the EPA had collaborated with other federal agencies, such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Transportation, along with urban planners on the creation of mixed-use communities where schools, shopping, services, employment, and housing were all located in close proximity to each other. Other initiatives that Ms. Trovado noted were: The development of the Community Focus and Exposure Risk Screening Tool (C-FERST) which is a tool developed by the EPA to conduct community-based risk assessments (available at: Environmental Justice Program Led by EPA Green Ribbon School Program EPA in conjunction with the Department of Education Charles Milam, Department Of Defense Mr. Milam concluded the speaker-portion of the conference call by providing examples of initiatives and programs being undertaken by the Department of Defense to promote prevention efforts within service members. Mr. Milam noted that the DOD is placing special attention on: Programs focusing on improving nutrition and physical activity through different obesity initiatives throughout the different branches of the armed forces, and, Tobacco cessation programs aimed to: o Establish price parity among tobacco products available on-base vs. those available offbase, o Reduce the availability of tobacco products to service members with the goal of ultimately eliminating their availability

3 As part of the programs focusing on improving nutrition and physical activity, Mr. Milam noted that the U.S. Army developed the Go for Green Program where each type of food is designated a green, amber, or red color code. Service members are encouraged to consume those foods with green designations as often as possible; those with amber designation on an occasional basis; and, those with a red designation, very rarely. The DOD is also working with the Army and the Air Force in a Fast Food initiative by providing healthier food alternative, lower in fat and sugar, in fast food outlets and vending machines on base. Mr. Milam concluded his participation in the conference call by providing the following examples of collaborations that the DoD has undertaken with other federal agencies and partners: DOD Breast Feeding Initiative In conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services 52 Week School Menu In conjunction with the Department of Education I am Learning, I am Moving Initiative - In conjunction with the Department of Education Let s Move Initiative - In conjunction with The White House Clearing House for Military Readiness, focusing on providing evidence-based practices on obesity prevention - In conjunction with Penn State University Question & Answers The conference call concluded with a 15 minute question and answer session. A summary of the questions asked and responses provided by the speakers follows: Q1: Number of strategies in the NPS, particularly clinical preventative services parallels the National Physical Activity Plan. Are you familiar with National Physical Activity Plan? A: Yes, very well aware. And ASTHO has been working a lot on this. We would like to work with them because they are national plans and would like to work with other plans. Q2: What is the vision for oral health needs? Currently, there are no requirements for dental benefits in healthcare. A: Oral health is under clinical and community services. Please refer to pg. 15 of the NPC Action Plan. Q3: Will there be additional funding released for prevention initiatives? A: None is expected. Last year Community Transformation Grants were made available, but due to the reality of the federal budget and how states and localities are strapped, no new funding is expected. The NPS and the NPC Action Plan is more about mindset, how we view health to prevent illness. Looking at what we are already doing and seeing how we can promote prevention efforts. This does not mean that funding might not be available further in the year, federal agencies might probably continue some programs, renew others. Q4: In regards to inventorying prevention activities going on already, where can examples be obtained? A: The NPC Action Plan has information on prevention activities (at least 200 listed). Q5: Social Impact Bonds (Pay for Success Strategy). Portion of savings are paid back to investors. This is being used in DOJ and DOL. Are there any similar efforts being done in health? A: Has not heard about it.

4 Q: Interested in finding if there are reports on savings acquired through the establishment of prevention programs around the country. The biggest hurdle is to bring in local officials and businesses is to show that if a program is implemented now, that money is saved down the road. A: Appendix 1 in the NPS is a section titled Economics of Preventing Disease. In addition, the federal government is trying to build in ways to collect data and communities and organization can collect data as well. In addition the Department of Health and Human Services Innovation Center looks at how healthcare cost can be reduced through prevention. National Prevention Council Action Plan: National Prevention Council 2012 Report to Congress: Heathcare.gov webpage where both are available:

5 Members of the National Prevention Council Department of Health and Human Services Department of Agriculture Department of Education Federal Trade Commission Department of Transportation Department of Labor Department of Homeland Security Environmental Protection Agency Office of National Drug Control Policy Domestic Policy Council Department of Interior Corporation for National and Community Service Department of Defense Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of Justice Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Management and Budget

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