Imposing Weight-Loss Guidelines: Another Function of ObamaCare?

Forbes ^ | May 20, 2013 | Glenn G. Lammi

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

The federal Affordable Care Act, better known as “ObamaCare,” may provide activists and government a little-known wedge to advance their obesity agendas through regulated health-care providers — specifically America’s nearly 3,000 non-profit hospitals. One organization, The STOP Obesity Alliance, recently identified this wedge as a way to have such hospitals embrace its core convictions, including one principle which questions the role of personal responsibility as a cause and a solution to obesity.

Community Health Needs Assessments. Section 9007 of the Act requires non-profit hospitals, as a condition of maintaining their tax-exempt status, to conduct Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs). These documents, which must be filed with the IRS, will demonstrate the health needs of the hospitals’ local communities and explain how hospitals are meeting those needs. One assessment of CHNAs likened them to banks’ responsibilities under the Community Reinvestment Act, in the sense that the documents might be used as tools by activists to prompt agreements or actions. It’s likely the STOP alliance understood this when it made its “recommendations.”

STOP’s Recommendations. The STOP Obesity Alliance “strongly encourages nonprofit hospitals to overcome and prevent obesity on the following core principles.” On balance, the coalition’s principles are laudable (encourage physical activity, encourage best practices, address and reduce stigma). One recommendation — that CHNAs use a “sustained loss of five to ten percent of current weight” as a barometer to successful weight reduction — may be troublesome for hospitals. If hospitals incorporate such a specific goal into their CHNAs, and their patients don’t achieve such consistent weight loss, that could provide STOP and other advocates with the clear data they need to oppose continued non-profit status at the IRS or with a potent stick to prod hospitals to certain actions.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Alamo-girl, can you do me a favor and replace your “thanks for the ping” to a different one. Not that I don’t love it.:-)

Just respond with: “coercing citizens to eat right, excercize and quit smoking is NOT a legitimate gubmint function. Unless they are paying for your healthcare costs.”

[Alamo-Girl]

Well said, dear Eric Blair 2084!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I can’t wait until those fat b*st*rds living in mom’s basement, blogging for Obama, get the business end of Obamacare. The cries will be like music to my ears.

I will also be there, to taste their salty tears. Yeah, baby!