New Alliance
Healthcare Initiative Formed to Treat
Obesity
February 19, 2009 – Earlier this
morning, the Alliance for a
Healthier Generation announced the formation of
the Alliance Healthcare Initiative. This
initiative is a collaboration between insurers,
employers, and medical associations to offer
health insurance benefits for children and
families to treat obesity. Physician
visits and referrals to see a Registered Dietician
for nutrition counseling will be reimbursable
services; and an educational component for parents
to better understand obesity and the services
available to their children will be offered. To
evaluate the effectiveness of the services
offered, outcomes will be measured.
Participating groups include Aetna,
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Wellpoint,
Houston
Independent
School
District, Owens Corning and
Paychex, PepsiCo, the William J. Clinton
Foundation, American Heart Association, the
American Academy of
Pediatrics, and the American Dietetic
Association.
The goal of the Alliance Healthcare
Initiative is to offer this benefit to 25 percent
of overweight children within the first three
years.
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