CDPHP® Launches New Effort to Combat Childhood Obesity
First Capital District Community-Based Health Plan to Collaborate with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Albany, NY (Vocus/PRWEB) January 24, 2011
In a continued effort to develop programs and services that address the growing problem of childhood obesity, CDPHP® announces a collaboration with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Alliance Healthcare Initiative to provide comprehensive health benefits for the prevention, assessment, and treatment of childhood obesity. The new collaboration will better enable CDPHP families to work with their primary care physicians (PCPs) and registered dietitians to ensure their children achieve lifelong health. This announcement comes on the heels of the recently released Alliance of Community Health Plans’ report, “Pediatric Obesity: Addressing a National Challenge at a Local Level,” where CDPHP was recognized for its childhood obesity efforts, further underscoring the health plan’s dedication to this cause.
“CDPHP remains committed to the health of its youth and is pleased to partner with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation on this critical endeavor,” said http://www. cdphp. com/aboutCDPHP/bennett. aspx John D. Bennett, MD], president and CEO, CDPHP. “As a physicians’ health plan, we know there is no one better to work with children and their families on how to establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle than our extensive provider network.”
As part of the collaboration with the Alliance, CDPHP will offer and promote a range of targeted benefits, including four visits to a PCP and four visits with a registered dietician, to all eligible children ages three to 18. This new initiative will allow CDPHP to partner with its providers to better identify its youngest members in need and help them to receive care that aims to prevent, assess, and treat childhood obesity. The three year collaboration builds upon existing CDPHP efforts to reach diverse families through community programs with messages about the importance of healthy food choices and physical activity.
Launched in February 2009, the Alliance Healthcare Initiative marks a major step forward in the holistic approach to reducing childhood obesity in the United States. Since its inception, two million children have gained access to this benefit option. The long-term goal of the Alliance Healthcare Initiative is that more than six million children (25 percent of all overweight and obese children in the U. S.) will have access to this benefit by 2012.
"Without proper prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, our current generation could become the first in American history to live shorter lives than their parents," said Ginny Ehrlich, executive director of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. "This benefit represents the first time most families will have access to these important services. We applaud CDPHP for making this commitment to help reverse the childhood obesity epidemic.”
Based in New York City, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a non-profit organization founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation. The Alliance Healthcare Initiative convened national medical associations, leading insurers, and employers to offer comprehensive health benefits to child and families for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.
About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation works to address one of the nation’s leading public health threats – childhood obesity. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015, and to empower kids to make healthy lifestyle choices. Founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation, the Alliance works to positively affect the places that can make a difference to a child’s health: homes, schools, doctor’s offices and communities. Visit the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to learn more about its programs and services.
About CDPHP®
Founded and guided by physicians, CDPHP and its affiliates currently serve members in 24 counties throughout New York state. The affiliated companies of CDPHP include a family of products: Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc.—HMO, Healthy New York, Medicare Choices (HMO), Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus; CDPHP Universal Benefits,® Inc. —PPO, High Deductible PPO, EPO, and Medicare Choices (PPO); and Capital District Physicians' Healthcare Network, Inc. —self-insured plans. Visit CDPHP.
# # #
