Government will require all Americans by 2014 to have a Obesity Rating

[teedubya]

I'm Doooooooomed. LOL.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/69436

Obesity Rating for Every American Included in Stimulus-Mandated Electronic Health Records

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.

[OnTheWarpath15]

That's what I'm wondering.

[007]

Originally Posted by Third Eye

While these factors certainly contribute, I think the biggest issue is that Americans have more disposable income than anywhere else in the world. Historically, weight has been tied to wealth and I think it is the same today.

I sure wish I had disposable income to buy my healthier foods.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Guru

I sure wish I had disposable income to buy my healthier foods.

What expensive foods are you buying?

[007]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

What expensive foods are you buying?

more whole grain products, fruits and vegetables.

I'm more or less arguing that it is more expensive to eat healthy than to eat crappy. I've seen the difference in my wallet.

[Bwana]

More "Hope and Change!" Thanks Barry.....

[007]

Originally Posted by Bwana

More "Hope and Change!" Thanks Barry.....

looks like you have a bad link as well.

[RJ]

I hope the gubmnet outlaws double bacon mushroom cheeseburgers cause when they do I'm going to start selling them in back alleys for $100 a hit.

[RJ]

Originally Posted by Guru

more whole grain products, fruits and vegetables.

I'm more or less arguing that it is more expensive to eat healthy than to eat crappy. I've seen the difference in my wallet.

I think you can eat a healthy and inexpensive diet but it's more trouble than an inexpensive and unhealthy diet.

[007]

Originally Posted by RJ

I think you can eat a healthy and inexpensive diet but it's more trouble than an inexpensive and unhealthy diet.

I'm trying to figure it out still but our bill has definitely gone up with the change to my eating habits. Mine isn't a diet though. It is a lifestyle change. More exercise and eliminating the junk.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by RJ

I think you can eat a healthy and inexpensive diet but it's more trouble than an inexpensive and unhealthy diet.

Yes, all the "specialty" stores gouge you on price. Whole Foods, etc... have a great racket going, and the so-called organics are ridiculous. Even the chain supermarkets are charging you $5 bucks for a pound of salad.

$5 bucks for a pound of salad, or less than $5 for a couple of dollar menu items, some fries and a Coke.....

Even something as basic as a cucumber has become relatively expensive.

[sedated]

If some people in this thread are placing 100% of the blame on the food industry (and advertising), then why bang the drum saying the gov't needs to help (or punish, depending on your point of view) the people consuming those products? Shouldn't the "help" go towards limiting the food industry that is causing it all.

Ya know, stop the cause rather than treat the symptom?

[sedated]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Yes, all the "specialty" stores gouge you on price. Whole Foods, etc... have a great racket going, and the so-called organics are ridiculous.

OMG, whole foods was outrageous. I went there once, got HALF the stuff I usually do for a week's worth of the typical breakfast/snack/lunch/snack, and it cost me over TWICE as much as usual. And none of it was organic.

[MadMax]

This "new" Government we have now can SUCK A BIG PENIS!!!!!!

[luv]

A lot of your healthy foods tend to be seasonal, so the supply is low. When supply is low, but the demand is there, guess what happens.

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by Bwana

More "Hope and Change!" Thanks Barry.....

He is "special" that's for sure. The idiots that worship him are just as bad.