Obesity Rating for Every American Must Be Included in Stimulus-Mandated Electronic Health Records, Says HHSThursday, July 15, 2010By Matt Cover, Staff Writer www.cnsnews.com________________________ ________________________ _____________________Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius speaks to reporters at HHS headquarters in Washington on July 1, 2010. (CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)(CNSNews.com) – New federal regulations issued this week stipulate that the electronic health records--that all Americans are supposed to have by 2014 under the terms of the stimulus law that President Barack Obama signed last year--must record not only the traditional measures of height and weight, but also the Body Mass Index: a measure of obesity.The obesity-rating regulation states that every American's electronic health record must: “Calculate body mass index. Automatically calculate and display body mass index (BMI) based on a patient’s height and weight.”The law also requires that these electronic health records be available--with appropriate security measures--on a national exchange. The new regulations are one of the first steps towards the government’s goal of universal adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) by 2014, as outlined in the 2009 economic stimulus law. Specifically, the regulations issued on Tuesday by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Dr. David Blumenthal, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, define the "meaningful use" of electronic records. Under the stimulus law, health care providers--including doctors and hospitals--must establish "meaningful use" of EHRs by 2014 in order to qualify for federal subsidies. After that, they will be subjected to penalties in the form of diminished Medicare and Medicaid payments for not establishing "meaningful use" of EHRs.Section 3001 of the stimulus law says: "The National Coordinator shall, in consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies (including the National Institute of Standards and Technology), update the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan (developed as of June 3, 2008) to include specific objectives, milestones, and metrics with respect to the following: (i) The electronic exchange and use of health information and the enterprise integration of such information.‘‘(ii) The utilization of an electronic health record for each person in the United States by 2014."Under this mandate in the stimulus law, Secretary Sebelius issued a regulation--developed by Dr. Blumenthal--that requires that all EHRs keep track of a person’s Body Mass Index (BMI) score. Body Mass Index is a ratio between a person’s weight and height, and is used to determine whether or not someone is overweight or obese. It is the preferred method of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for measuring obesity. Michelle Obama has made dealing with the problem of childhood obesity the main theme of her term as First Lady.U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. (Photo by Penny Starr/CNSNews.com) According to the CDC, “BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.” A person’s BMI score is used as a tool to screen for obesity or excessive body fat that could lead to other health problems. While it does not actually measure body fat directly, according to CDC, the BMI scores generally correlate with a person’s body fat percentage. The new regulations also stipulate that the new electronic records be capable of sending public health data to state and federal health agencies such as HHS and CDC. The CDC, which calls American society “obesogenic” – meaning that American society itself promotes obesity – collects BMI scores from state health agencies every year to monitor obesity nationwide. “Electronically record, retrieve, and transmit syndrome based public health surveillance information to public health agencies,” the regulations read. With the spread of electronic health records, the CDC apparently will be able to collect such data more efficiently and with greater accuracy because the electronic record keeping systems can send the data automatically, eliminating the need for government – both state and federal – to keep, send, and process physical records.http://cnsnews.com/news/article/69436________________________ ________________________ ____________________And people wonder why I would throw a block party if AF1 crashes or some natural disaster destroys DC and wipes out every one of these disgusting traitors? Whatever.
I was just referring to Obesity. There are only two cures for it, Die or eat less over time. Its quite simple really and wish there wasn`t so much added confusion to it.
Hey Mons - are you like your butt boy Blacken who cant discuss a topic on the merits?Do me a favor, don't resped in any thread of mine unless you want to discuss the topic, fake soldier.
What this is going to do is allow the carriers to add surcharges to your premiuims based on the BMI number that the govt is colecting for them. Skip I'm not kidding, if a natural disaster took out the entire Govt and their families, I'm flying you, GigantorX, Bindare, 240, BF, Billy, McWay, etc out to NYC for a massive party, on my dime.
IThey are trying to make us all slaves, serfs, and servants to the Govt/TBTF complex.
If some fatty shows up with rolls over his belt and panting from walking up the stairs, doesnt that speak for itself as to what his issue is?
You are all focusing on a small part of this without seeing the greater good. The availability of records is going to save lives,
what a load of shit. I'd like to see some kind of tax based on body fat %.it's safe to say, on average, the guy with 10% body fat is going to cost taxpayers a LOT LESS over a lifetime than a guy the same age with 35% body fat.Something like this would work. under 10% BF = 10 to 15% BF = 15 to 20% BF = 20 to 28% BF = 29 to 40% BF = 41+ BF% = Then you adjust it for age, gender, etc.
Greater good? You seem to keep spiraling into Marixism with the end always justifying the means.Taking your argument to its logical conclusion can only lead to government being able to dictate everything about your health. Most hospitals are subsidized and there is a clear push towards universal coverage. At that point, taxes and healthcare will be inextricably linked.If Uncle Sam doesn't want you adding salt to your food, they'll be able to stop it. Candy - gone. Cheese might lead to heart disease so we'll ration that. Red meat too!!And, there's the whole issue of BMI not exactly being a very good indicator of obesity.Liberals seem more concerned about the rights of Gitmo detainees than they do of their fellow Americans. And I can only imagine the privacy abuses that will come from such an exchange.
