Getting Healthy (or at least planning to) in California…

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Monday, June 11, 2012

NEW “LET’S GET HEALTHY” TASK FORCE TO IMPROVE HEALTH IN CALIFORNIA
STARTS WITH FIRST MEETING IN LOS ANGELES

* Stakeholders can follow this morning via web or conference call.
* Task Force will develop 10-year plan to reduce diabetes, asthma, childhood obesity, hypertension, and sepsis-related mortality;
* Other goals include reducing hospital readmissions, increasing childhood vaccinations


* On Wednesday: U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin comes to Sacramento to release the National Prevention Council Action Plan

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This morning in Los Angeles, a new state task force will begin deliberations on developing a ten-year plan to make Californians healthier and help control health care costs. California Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley will co-chair the task force with Dr. Don Berwick, former President and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and a noted advocate of patient reforms.

The first meeting this morning of the “Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force” and a related Expert Advisory Committee will kick off additional discussion over the next six months. The focus would implementing Governor Jerry Brown’s Executive Order on making Californians healthier.

Their report will establish baselines for key health indicators, identify obstacles, inventory best practices, provide fiscally prudent recommendations and create a sensible framework for measuring improvements in key areas including:

•Reducing diabetes, asthma, childhood obesity, hypertension and sepsis-related mortality.
•Reducing hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge.
•Increasing the number of children receiving recommended vaccines by age three.

The press release announcing this effort, along with brief bios of the Task Force members and Expert Advisors is available on the website of the California Health and Human Services Agency: http://www.chhs.ca.gov/Documents/Let%27s%20Get%20Healthy%20California%20Task%20Force%20release.pdf  

Stakeholders interested in listening to the proceedings of the Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force meeting can do so over a conference call or the Internet:

Date: Monday, June 10, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM* (Pacific Time)

* To register for the WebEx and listen-only teleconference entitled “Task Force”:
1. Go to https://calendow-events.webex.com/calendow-events/onstage/g.php?d=669542801&t=a&EA=blee40calendow.org&ET=e77d03def0885ce18ee7bb06eae45ab8&ETR=d9af330fbca434dd67ae45a94cf7348c&SourceId=c1d315268e2f4df5e040fc0a770729a9&RT=MiM0&p
2. Click “Join Now”.

* To join the listen-only teleconference:
1) Call toll number 1-650-479-3207 (5 cents per minute) or toll free number 1-855-244-8681 (limited capacity, first come first served until lines are no longer available). Both numbers will enable you to access the teleconference in listen-only mode.
2) When prompted after dialing either the toll number or toll free number, please enter the Access code: 669 542 801 followed by the # sign.

*Please join the call 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to register with the operator and be placed into conference.

NATIONAL PREVENTION COUNCIL ACTION PLAN: In a related development with overlapping goals but a national scope, California will also be the host of the release of The National Prevention Council Action Plan with U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, on Wednesday June 13th in Sacramento.

The Action Plan details the next steps in the federal implementation of the National Prevention Strategy – a comprehensive plan designed to help keep Americans healthy–before they need the services of our health care system. Created by the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council, the National Prevention Strategy seeks to shift the nation from a focus on sickness and disease to one based on prevention and wellness, by emphasizing the critical role of multi-sector efforts to advance health, equity and well-being.

The Sacramento event this Wednesday is hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region IX, Secretary Diana Dooley of the California Health and Human Services Agency, The California Endowment, and the Prevention Institute.

The event will take place this Wednesday, June 13th, in Sacramento at The California Museum at 10:30am – 12:30pm. To attend, please RSVP to Region9ord@hhs.gov.

The event will include a roundtable discussion on how state and local organizations can support the national plan and advance community prevention locally and across the country. In addition, Dr. Benjamin, in coordination with Department of Health and Human Services Region IX leaders, will announce an upcoming regional convening in Fall 2012 on implementation of the National Prevention Strategy in the region.

Health Access California promotes quality, affordable health care for all Californians.