| Strategies to improve employee and population health |  |
| Wellness Programs & Trends |  |  |
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- Employee health is good economic, business strategy, experts say
A healthy workforce is important to reducing unemployment in Muskego, Mich., as companies look at local health statistics when deciding where to locate, according to Gary Allore, regional chief operating officer for Mercy Health Partners. Jeff Rubleski of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan said employers that reassess their insurance strategy because of the Affordable Care Act may choose plans with higher deductibles or copayments that integrate wellness incentives. MLive.com (Michigan) (free registration)
(2/17)     
| Fitness | | |
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- Exercise may help prevent depression and anxiety, study shows
A study of 850 adults who had bariatric surgery found that the more they exercised, the lower their risk of depression or anxiety, University of Pittsburgh researchers reported in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research. Those who were most likely to avoid depression or anxiety were active for 3.2 hours daily, had at least 8 minutes of high-level activity and/or walked 4,750 steps or more each day, researchers said. DailyRx.com
(2/17)
| Health News & Research | | |
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- CDC: Flu activity continues downward trend
CDC data from the week ending Feb. 9 showed that flu activity in many states continued to drop. Eleven states and New York City reported high levels of flu activity, and 10 states reported moderate activity. Adults aged 65 and older account for more than half of total flu-related hospitalizations, and 64 children have died so far this flu season, the CDC said. DoctorsLounge.com/HealthDay News
(2/15)
- Study links cardiometabolic risk factors to premature death
Researchers looked at data on 9,245 people ages 12 to 39 and found that cardiometabolic risk factors such as central obesity, smoking and hyperglycemia were associated with a higher risk of death before age 55. Analysis also showed a higher risk of all-cause death related with hypertension and high total and non-HDL cholesterol in women, but not in men. The study appeared online in the journal Pediatrics. MedPage Today (free registration)
(2/18)
- Poor stress response may increase obesity risk in children
Children who had higher cortisol levels in response to stressors showed higher BMI and consumed more calories despite the absence of hunger compared with those who only had slightly elevated cortisol rates, a study found. The results in the journal Appetite suggest that children who have a poor response to stress may be at an increased risk of obesity. Yahoo/Asian News International
(2/16)
| Schools & Community | | |
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- Iowa promotes health screenings with grant money
The Scott County Health Department in Iowa uses grant money from the Affordable Care Act to buy ads promoting blood pressure screening on Davenport buses and billboards and in movie theaters and brochures. The Iowa Department of Public Health is using the funding to promote colon cancer screening with coasters in bars, taverns and restaurants around the state. Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa)
(2/18)
| Wellness Industry Developments | | |
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| AHIP News | | |
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Partnerships improving care and access for dual eligibles
At AHIP's Dual Eligibles Summit: Improving Care, Coverage, and Cost, March 12 in Washington, D.C., you'll learn about innovative stakeholder initiatives that are working to strengthen care, services and support for dual eligibles in sessions including “Examining the Dual Eligibles Landscape” and “State Strategies for Streamlining and Aligning Initiatives.” Get details and register.
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AHIP now offers health insurance-focused IT education
With health care reform implementation, health plans and providers are now looking to IT as a strategic partner. The need for IT professionals with health insurance knowledge has never been greater. AHIP has a new program that educates IT professionals of all levels about health insurance IT. It includes designations, webinars, workshops, online courses and more. Get details.
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration."
--James Allen,
British author
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| AHIP Solutions Team |
Managing Editor, Online Publishing:
Yvonne Chanatry
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| | Recent AHIP Wellness SmartBrief Issues:
- Friday, February 15, 2013
- Thursday, February 14, 2013
- Wednesday, February 13, 2013
- Tuesday, February 12, 2013
- Monday, February 11, 2013
| | | Lead Editor: Kathryn Doherty
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