Colorado s 10 Winnable Battles Christopher E. Urbina, MD, MPH, Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment June 7, 2012
Comparing CDC and Colorado CDCs Winnable Battles Food safety HIV Healthcare-associated infections Motor vehicle injuries Nutrition, physical activity, obesity Teen pregnancy Tobacco Colorado s Winnable Battles Safe food Infectious disease prevention Injury prevention Obesity Unintended pregnancy Tobacco Mental health and substance abuse Oral health Clean water Clean air
Colorado s 10 Winnable Battles Clean Air Clean Water Infectious Disease Prevention Injury Prevention Mental Health & Substance Abuse Obesity Oral Health Safe Food Tobacco Unintended Pregnancy
Special focus on 3 Winnable Battles Mental Health and Substance Abuse Obesity Oral Health
Why this matters Mental Health Untreated mental illness leads to unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, and suicide Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for youth (ages 10-24) in Colorado and nearly one out of every 13 Colorado youth report attempting suicide in the past year Nearly 1.5 million Coloradans are in need of treatment for mental health or substance use disorder care
Mental Health The economic burden Nearly $75 million in direct and hospital costs, and more than $1.33 billion in lost productivity
Why this matters Substance Abuse Substance abuse problems include: Teenage pregnancy Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections Domestic violence Child abuse Motor vehicle crashes Crime Homicide Suicide
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Effective strategies Expand evidence based prevention programs Implement recommendations from The Status of Behavioral Health in Colorado Integrate services and funding Increase access to care Expand access to person-centered health/medical homes that integrate behavioral health and primary care Increase culturally competent care Key Public and Private Partners Behavioral Health Transformation Council CDHS, CDPHE, HCPF, DOC, DPS Colorado Trust, Colorado Health Foundation, Caring for Colorado Foundation, Denver Foundation
Why this matters Obesity Obesity increases the risk for: Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, respiratory problems, and osteoarthritis Even children and adolescents are at risk for these conditions
Obesity The economic burden Health care for conditions related to obesity costs Coloradans more than $1.6 billion each year
Obesity Effective strategies Community Investment Strategy: Funding LiveWell Communities Freshen-Up School Food Initiatives Worksite wellness Social change initiatives Culture of Change Campaign Weigh and Win Smart Meal Seal Encouraging health care professionals to adopt Colorado Adult and Childhood Obesity Guidelines to provide healthy lifestyle advice to their patients Key Public and Private Partners LiveWell Colorado CDPHE, HCPF Colorado Health Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Local Public Health Agencies
Why this matters Oral Health Periodontal disease is linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke Colorado kids miss about 7.8 million school hours every year because of mouth pain An estimated 42 percent of working-age Coloradans and approximately 67 percent of Colorado adults over 65 years of age do not have dental benefits
The economic burden Oral Health In FY09-10, 6,076 Colorado children received hospital-based dental care costing Medicaid $8,249,949 Children s Hospital has four operating rooms dedicated to treating severe dental caries that are full 8 hours a day, 5 days a week it is one of the top three reasons for OR use at Children s
Oral Health Effective strategies Ensure effective implementation of the Affordable Care Act: Expansions of CHP+ and Medicaid (dental benefits) Health insurance products through Health Insurance Exchange must include dental care for children Expand school-based dental sealant programs Recruit, train and enable general dentists that currently do not accept children on Medicaid to begin accepting Medicaid patients Train dental providers to care for young children and pregnant women following Cavity Free at Three protocols Key Public and Private Partners Colorado Partnership for Children s Oral Health CDPHE, HCPF Caring for Colorado Foundation Oral Health Colorado
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