Recorded presentation

Margie Powers, MSW MPH¹, Sarah E. Samuels, DrPH², Lisa Craypo, MPH², and Marion Standish, JD³. (1) Margie Powers Consulting, 5 Hillcrest Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960, 415-457-2481, margie@margiepowers.com, (2) Samuels & Associates, 663 13th Street, Oakland, CA 94612, (3) The California Endowment, 101 Second Street, 24th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105

This presentation will outline the various options for increasing obesity and diabetes prevention efforts in provider settings, through health plan programs and in conjunction with employers and health insurance purchasers. The objective is to further an understanding of the ways the health care delivery system may contribute to the prevention of diabetes and obesity and to help identify feasible approaches that can be widely disseminated and adopted. Findings will be presented from interviews conducted with 23 organizations, including five health plans, nine provider organizations, one employer purchasing organization and eight other agencies. The key areas of questioning included the organization’s perception of obesity as a priority issue, clinical providers’ awareness of obesity, barriers to program implementation and review of existing programs at each of the organizations. The presentation will also include highlights from an in-person convening was held to further examine and flesh out the themes that emerged from the stakeholder survey, to confirm that the areas identified in the survey were the top priorities, and to identify any additional priorities. Four key areas were identified in which the health care delivery system may contribute to and participate in the prevention of diabetes and obesity: 1) increasing financing and coverage of diabetes/obesity prevention, 2) engaging providers and the medical community in diabetes/obesity prevention efforts, 3) increasing rigor of diabetes/obesity prevention measurement activities, and 4) creating and participating in multi-disciplinary diabetes/obesity prevention collaboratives.

Learning Objectives:

• To gain understanding of current perceptions about and priority of diabetes and obesity prevention in the health care delivery system;
• To obtain overview of types of diabetes/obesity programs already implemented at health plans, provider groups and other health care service agencies;
• To identify key priorities areas for health plan involvement in diabetes/obesity prevention.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: this presentation is based on work done as a paid consultant.

Recorded presentation