Quarterly Meetings 2013

2013 Meeting Minutes

• February 2013
• May 2013
• August 2013
• November 2013

February 2013 Meeting Presentations

Michael A. Morrisey, Ph.D., is the director of the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy. He provided an update on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and reviewed its implications for Alabama. The goal of the ACA is to reduce the number of uninsured persons in the USA. A help sight, eHealthInsurance, is designed to provide comparisons of the basics of a variety of plans. The eHealthers are available to help you work through the different options and select the best plan for your needs. Dr. Morrisey provided views of the benefits and barriers of a state developing its own plan versus accepting the federal plan. He explained why it was prudent that Gov. Bently accepted the federal plan.

• Affordable Care Act Review

Julie Wells is with Alabama Care Network, which is a not- for profit organization that provides case management for the patients of physicians who accept Patient 1st Medicaid in east Alabama. Alabama's Medicaid caseload is approximately 90% children. They cover seven counties: Bullock, Chambers, Coosa, Lee, Macon, Russell, and Tallapoosa.

Julie explained that they do not bill the patients, but are 100% Medicaid funded. The case manager determines the patient's contact schedule, which may vary from frequent home visits to phone calls. The model is based on North Carolina's plan and is heavily weighted for case managers. The success of the cost savings and patient compliance is directly related to the trust developed with the case managers and the patients and working closely with the physician's offices. They focus on the total person, which may require mental health or pharmacy interventions.

May 2013 Meeting Presentations

Jonathan Edwards, a program manager from the Alabama Department of Public Health, provided an overview of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. This is a six-week course, led by trained lay leaders, used to teach decision-making skills to the participants. Jonathan provided a mock class setting and OTF members worked through a goal-setting exercise. The program is implemented in a variety of settings, including hospitals, senior centers, community centers, churches, wellness sites, etc. To implement the course, leaders participate in a two-day training course. No cost to the participant is included, but the hosting site pays a set-up cost of purchasing workbooks. To learn more about implementing the course contact Jonathan via email or at (334) 206-5605. Decision-making tools used in this program are available for download below.

• Decision Making Tools

August 2013 Meeting Presentations

Dr. Linda Knol, University of Alabama professor and OTF Data Chair, reviewed the current childhood obesity data. Data from the 2011-2012 dental programs represented 4,362 kindergarteners and 3,952 third graders. A random sample of schools within each dental district was selected. Results show of the kindergartners,14.2% were overweight and 15.1% were obese. For third graders,16.6% were overweight and 21% were obese. Obesity rates in low-income Alabama preschoolers have stayed the same between the years 2008-2011. Obesity rates in Alabama school-age children are higher than the national average. Obesity rates are higher among minority children with the highest rates found in Hispanic children.

• Childhood Obesity Statistics

November 2013 Meeting Presentation

Teresa Johnson and Kerri Outlaw from Troy University presented a program on the modified version of the weight loss program L.E.A.P. This version is utilized for a family-based pediatric weight loss program in Pike County.

• A Family-Based Behavioral Intervention for Management of Childhood Obesity