Connecticut

                          Medicaid Managed Care Council

                                   Quality Assurance Subcommittee

                              Legislative Office Building Room 3000, Hartford CT 06106

                               (860) 240-0321     Info Line (860) 240-8329     FAX (860) 240-5306

                                                                                                  www.cga.ct.gov/ph/medicaid

 

 

Meeting Summary: November 16, 2006

Next meeting January 18, 2007(Cancelled) Feb. 15 at 2 PM in LOB RM 3800

 

Update –State Obesity program – Chris Parker-DPH

      National release – America’s – How are we doing-

 

Ct. is among the 6th slimmest in the nation – yet 60% of Ct citizens are obese

 

Government recommendations: - High level task force

                                                     Work among state agencies

                                                      State & Local should be part of resources

 

Limited financing – Ct. Childhood Obesity Council next meeting 01/07

1.      Formulate structure

2.      Priorities set for state

3.      Looking at obesity in childhood

 

Suggest looking at school health assessment records

Health directors of local health departments

Collecting data – BMI as part of physicals

 

Diabetes – obesity and other chronic disease

 

It was suggested we look at what venues have the greatest impact

 

·        Schools

·        Local data collection/ inclusive of BMI

·        Communities

·        Work sites

 

1. DPH piloted program at their own work site – the most evidence of improvement in health status. Stated that vending machines and cafeteria closely looked at – positive changes made received grant for state employees due to health care costs increasing

 

2. Corporations are starting to change labeling – trans-fats being taken out of foods

    Suggest web based data collection from schools

 

Discussion

Well care – Janet Davis – Mary Jane Toomey summary of obesity forum:

 

Sponsored educational forum – Dr. Tanya Burgett research which revealed some alarming clinical information that includes:

 

·        kids developing diabetes reported kids with fatty livers, not ever seen in past

·        syndrome x – cardiac disease with children having myocardial infarctions

 

Dr. Geertsma:

 

  • Kids with susceptibility  inherited with obesity as a chronic disease
  • Series of events with panels with other MCO’s to gather data

 

Judy Davis:

  • pediatric academy has accessibility through schools – there is opposition to collect data from schools.
  • vetoed last year in legislature

Dr. Geertsma:

 

  • Collect BMI from preschool and up
  • Look at what districts have the most problem
  • Community coalitions – economics impacts choices
  • Farmers market takes food stamps/WIC and WIC for elders
  • Questioned if state wide farmers market accept food stamps
  • DSS-MCO-DPH ( Advisory committee) for Husky to help address some issues related to obesity – It is not JUST a medical problem

 

Rose Ciarcia ( DSS)

 

  • Obesity studies needed – How can we get better data – MCO’s clarify diagnosis already, capture BMI and look at causes – this is HUGE project. HUSKY can be a part of the process.
  • We can look at adding other things to present data collection
  • Lots of physicians not comfortable discussing weight
  • Calculate BMI’s for all patients
  •  

Dr. Geerstma:

 

  • Look at community to get involved
  • Core family – community groups
  • Mechanisms needed to get to success – MCO’s part of the process

 

 

 

Paula Armbuster:

 

Include adolescents in any studies.

 

Meeting adjourned at 3PM:  Next meeting January 18, 2007 at 2 PM

Submitted by Sharon Gauthier, Nursing Graduate Student Intern