Promote Wellness
Improve Quality of Care across the Lifespan
Health care reform cannot be successful unless there is a primary focus on promoting wellness and prevention. For example, immunizations are now available for preventing a number of diseases that were once common in children and/or adults, benefiting individuals, the broader community and health care costs. As such, the health care reform legislation calls for a report in January 2007 regarding methods to ensure that all Vermonters have access to clinically recommended immunizations.
Public health concerns, such as those relating to overweight and poor nutrition, also are major drivers in the incidence of chronic disease and increased medical inflation. Beginning in July 2007, the new Coordinated Healthy Activity, Motivation and Prevention Program CHAMPPS will provide competitive multi-year grants to communities to assist them in promoting healthy behavior and disease prevention across the lifespan of the individual, consistent with the Blueprint and community goals. Examples include the promotion of good nutrition and exercise for children, community recreation programs, elderly wellness, lead poisoning abatement, obesity prevention, mental health promotion and substance abuse prevention, maternal and child health and immunization, and tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
The legislation also required the Department of Health to compile an inventory of all programs within state government. This inventory was submitted to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on December 15, 2006.
In addition, the new Catamount Health Plans are required to include coverage and waive cost-sharing for preventative care, which includes immunizations, screening, counseling, treatment and medication determined by scientific evidence to be effective in preventing or detecting a condition.
The Catamount Health legislation also allows carriers that offer insurance plans in the individual or small group market to provide premium discounts (up to 15% of premiums) or other economic rewards for people who participate in health promotion and disease prevention programs.
