Author: Larry Chapman Introduction: Estimates of obesity prevalence based on current BMI are an important, but incomplete indicator of the total effects of obesity on a population. Methods: In this study, data on current BMI and maximum BMI were used to estimate prevalence and trends in lifetime obesity status, defined using the categories never (maximum… Continue Reading ›
Author: Larry Chapman Recently the federal government released one of the most comprehensive and authoritative chartbooks profiling health insurance coverage, costs and trends for working Americans. This 168 page publication provides one of the most sweeping and most valid profiles of employer provided health insurance coverage and characteristics that has been published to date. It… Continue Reading ›
Author: Larry Chapman On November 13, 2017, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) released a new report that recommends changing the clinical parameters for the diagnosis of hypertension from 140sbp/90dbp to 130sbp/80dpb. This is a big deal and will affect everyone who performs blood pressure measurement including worksite wellness… Continue Reading ›
Author: Larry Chapman This 30 page document provides a quick and efficient look at key issues in program evaluation of worksite wellness and health promotion programs. It includes discussion of a number of key issues and is a helpful reference in establishing your own approach to program evaluation. The table of contents includes: PURPOSE, SCOPE… Continue Reading ›
Author: Larry Chapman This edition of Connections contains a brief summary of the findings from 15+ research studies on the effectiveness of text messaging (‘SMS’) in assisting with health behavior change. ‘Mobile’ is old news. With mobile devices going from a curiosity to a virtual appendage for most workers in the 10 years since the launch of the… Continue Reading ›
When was the last time you had someone from IT help you solve a particularly annoying software problem? For me it was yesterday. Well, as you listened to the solution and if you didn’t write down the instructions or practice the fix several times, what is likely to happen the next time you run into… Continue Reading ›
OK, hear me out… This isn’t 2004, I know, but some new research has shown us again not to pan the humble HRA. The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine for December just came out with a great new study that shows that the HRA ALONE drove significant reductions in seven of eight… Continue Reading ›
ACA Title 1, Sec. 1563. Sense of the senate promoting fiscal responsibility: “Ugly” – No way is this Law going to reduce the federal deficit. This section is the explicit statement by Congressional sponsors of the expectation that the ACA will reduce the $17+ trillion federal deficit between 2010 and 2019 and improve the solvency of… Continue Reading ›
ACA Title 1, Sec. 1560. Rules of construction: “Good” – helps establish clarity in Law’s impact in four collateral areas.Lawmakers clarify here that no part of the ACA negates any of the antitrust laws, counters the ERISA exemption of the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act, prevent any institution of high education from offering student health… Continue Reading ›
ACA Title 1, Sec. 1559. Oversight: “Good” – General authorization of Inspector General’s role in ACA. This provision recognizes that the Inspector General of the DHHS has administrative oversight over the Department’s role in the administration and implementation of the Law. This is a general intention statement on the part of the Congress related to the… Continue Reading ›