Outrage

Yesterday’s headlines probably signal the end of the “public option” in the health care plan, a measure championed by liberals and charred by conservatives. The “public option” issue, with its ability to extract vile insults from its protagonists and opposers, is tailor-made for media stories. The legislation, of course, is dreary, but the passion it induces is wonderful theater.

The theater, however, has crowded out several issues deserving of greater public awareness.

Of particular note, (this is a blog about physical activity, after all) is the lack of any provision in the health care proposals that would incentivize Americans to live healthier lifestyles. No WHIP. No PHIT.

Perhaps a few facts will help muster up enough public outrage to warrant a grainy YouTube video from a townhall meeting...

- Individuals who live unhealthy lifestyles are more likely to develop a chronic disease
- Chronic disease accounts for 75% of health care costs
- Active adults spend less money on health care

Are you outraged? Join the Campaign for a Healthier America and help lead the charge for health reform based on healthy living. Also, make sure the batteries in your video camera are charged.

- Tom Richards

Baucus, Grassley Release Report on Financing Health Care Reform

The following is an excerpt from Capitol Report, a weekly e-newsletter from IHRSA Public Policy. IHRSA Members- subscribe today!

On Monday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released a report on policy options for financing comprehensive health care reform. This is the third and final report from the Committee before they begin to mark up legislation in June. Three potential areas for funding are explored in the report; two are significant for IHRSA’s health promotion efforts.

One section the report explores current health care tax expenditures. Among those, are nine different policy options including modifying or eliminating Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Any change to FSAs is of particular importance to the fitness industry as it is the main tax vehicle for the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act (H.R. 2105).

While this report is not an outline of legislation that the Committee will consider, it does indicate the direction of the policies the Committee could well pursue. IHRSA has been and continues to heavily lobby members of the Senate Finance Committee and other Senators for their support of the PHIT Act. In fact, two Senators have expressed strong interest in introducing the bill in the Senate (it is currently, and historically has been, introduced in the House only). Fitness professionals are also speaking out. Earlier this month during the Summit for a Healthier America, fitness professionals met with staffers on the Committee and the offices of Senators on the Committee. It will be vital to the potential inclusion in any health care reform legislation that there is vocal support for Americans to continue to have access to FSAs and that FSAs be expanded to encourage healthy lifestyles.

The Senate report did address lifestyle tax proposals to “promote wellness and healthy lifestyle choices, and curb activities that increase overall health care costs.” The two policy options presented included the taxation of alcoholic beverages and excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. These measures demonstrate the Committee’s recognition that tax policy is a proven way to effect individual behavior change.

While these policies might “curb activities that increase overall health care costs” they do not go far enough to “promote wellness and healthy lifestyle choices.” Diet is only one part of the balance needed for a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity provides health benefits that diet alone cannot achieve. IHRSA will continue to lobby the Finance Committee and key Members of Congress for their support of tax policies that encourage physical activity as part of health care reform.

While IHRSA lobbies key Members, it is important that all Members of Congress hear from fitness professionals in their districts about the power of exercise and its impact on the people that they represent on Capitol Hill. You can make your voice heard by joining the Campaign for a Healthier America’s virtual march on Washington.

- Breanne McGahey

Rep. Ron Kind: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles

Last week, IHRSA fitness professionals gathered in DC for the Campaign for a Healthier America to lobby for support of the Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act (HR 2106/S 913) and the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act (HR 2105). US Representative Ron Kind was the lead sponsor of both bills in the House. The following is a post by Representative Kind on The Hill Blog.

Let’s face it; Americans have been too sedentary, too long. Sixty-four percent of American adults and 34% of children suffer from chronic disease, often brought about by obesity and lack of physical activity. A recent study even found that 20% of our four-year olds are obese. If lifestyle changes aren’t made, these kids are going to become obese adults and struggle with chronic disease all their lives. This is something we must reverse.

There’s a lot we could be doing at home to take care of our health. In our everyday lives, we have control over exercising more, eating better and giving up smoking. And the better we take care of ourselves, the more dramatic decline we’ll see in health care costs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that health care costs directly associated with inactivity were $76.6 billion in 2000. By using the tax code to incentivize physical activity, through the WHIP and PHIT Acts, we can cut these outrageous health care costs.

That’s why I and Rep. Zach Wamp, along with several other likeminded members of Congress, recently introduced the WHIP (Workforce Health Improvement Program) and PHIT (Personal Health Investment Today) Acts - to give people the incentive they need to get active; further preventing illness and disease, improving worker productivity and reducing the amount spent by consumers and government on managing major health issues every year.

The bills give employees pre-tax advantages for wellness activities, encouraging people to increase their physical activity. Not only does the WHIP Act affirm an employer’s right to deduct the cost of subsidizing or providing fitness center benefits to employees, encouraging them to offer the perk, but it also eliminates the income tax paid by employees on these benefits, giving them an incentive to get active. The PHIT bill increases the types of expenditures payable out of pre-tax health investment accounts, allowing taxpayers to use up to $1,000 annually for preventative exercise costs including fitness center dues, some exercise equipment, and sports activity fees, among others.

The WHIP and PHIT bills put us on the right track to reforming health care by keeping preventative measures in mind. These bills help remove the cost barrier associated with getting fit and promote a healthy lifestyle, furthering preventative health efforts and reducing our nation’s health care costs.

http://blog.thehill.com/2009/05/06/promoting-healthy-lifestyles-rep-ron-kind/

Looking for a few good fitness professionals

We need a few good fitness professionals to travel to Washington, DC on May 6 and 7, 2009 to represent their congressional district or state and meet with key congressional leaders about the role of exercise in health care reform as part of the Campaign for a Healthier America. Are you willing to step up to the plate and speak out for healthy lifestyles?

Maybe in your mind, you scrolling through a list of excuses right now. I'm too busy. Someone else from my district will go. It's too expensive. I can't make a difference. I don't know the first thing about politics. I'm not even interested in politics.

Here is the thing: the Summit for a Healthier America is not about politics, it is not about professional lobbyists, it's not about leaving it up to the "next guy." It's about participating in the political process, something that every American has the right and the obligation to do.

What happens in your health club matters to the future of America and fundamental changes in our health care system. We need you to tell that story to your Members of Congress. You don't have to know the specific details of the legislation, you just need to be passionate about making America healthier.

I hope you will consider joining us. It is an amazing experience. You will leave with a new outlook on DC and the difference that you can make in our country. It may sound hookey, but I promise, it's true. Register online today.

If you are at fitness professional at an IHRSA member club in good standing and live or work in one of our target districts, you may be eligible for a travel scholarship to the Summit for a Healthier America. See a list of target districts here.

- Breanne McGahey

Campaign for a Healthier America Advocate Spotlight

This week, the Campaign for a Healthier America spotlight is on our new friend and advocate for healthy lifestyles, Michael Field. He is the owner of Gold's Gym in Providence, Rhode Island. This is a great club! Not only have fitness professionals from this club attended our Summit for a Healthier America in DC, but they are a sponsor and event host for Shape Up RI.

According to the Shape Up RI website, "Shape Up RI is a statewide exercise and weight loss challenge founded by Brown Medical School student Rajiv Kumar on the belief that the solution to healthy living lies in the power of teamwork and peer support. This annual health campaign encourages Rhode Islanders to pursue healthy lifestyles through increased physical activity and better nutrition."

IHRSA is proud to Michael and Gold's Gym Providence as part of our family of fitness professionals who work hard every day to make America healthier!

Campaign for a Healthier America Advocate Spotlight

Last week in San Francisco at the IHRSA Convention and Trade Show, attendees participated in the Virtual March on Washington, a national grassroots project of the IHRSA Campaign for a Healthier America. There were dozens of advocates that recorded videos for Congress and President Obama. Over the coming weeks, we’re going to spotlight our favorites here on the Movement for a Healthier America blog.

Take a few minutes and watch Tanya Barham, CEO of Recess Wellness in Portland, Oregon.

Campaign for a Healthier America

The Campaign for a Healthier America is a national grassroots project bringing together exercise enthusiasts to make healthy lifestyles a priority for all Americans.

The Campaign seeks to bring the fitness industry together with government, employers, medical and public health professionals, insurance providers, schools, and each of us individually.

We must work as one to create a culture and environment of wellness. To achieve this, we will:
- Encourage regular exercise and healthy eating for people of all ages and physical conditions
- Engage Americans in grassroots efforts to make their communities healthier
- Ask policymakers to encourage exercise by creating tax incentives and removing financial barriers

Learn more about the Campaign for a Healthier America and how you can join the movement by visiting, campaign4health.org.