Designing Insurance to Promote Use of Childhood Obesity Prevention Services

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Kimberly J Rask, Emory University; Julie A Gazmararian, Emory University; Sue Kohler, Emory University; Jonathan N. Hawley, Emory University; Jenny Bogard, Alliance for a Healthier Generation; Victoria A. Brown, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-03-21
• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2013 Kimberly J. Rask et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jobes/2013/379513/
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Obesity
• ISSN: 2090-0708
• Volume: 2013
• Issue: 2013
• Start Page: 1
• End Page: 7
• Grant/Funding Information: This evaluation was supported by a Grant from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a recognized public health crisis. This paper reviews the lessons learned from a voluntary initiative to expand insurance coverage for childhood obesity prevention and treatment services in the United States. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with key informants from 16 participating health plans and employers in 2010-11. Key informants reported difficulty ensuring that both providers and families were aware of the available services. Participating health plans and employers are beginning new tactics including removing enrollment requirements, piloting enhanced outreach to selected physician practices, and educating providers on effective care coordination and use of obesity-specific billing codes through professional organizations. The voluntary initiative successfully increased private health insurance coverage for obesity services, but the interviews described variability in implementation with both best practices and barriers identified. Increasing utilization of obesity-related health services in the long term will require both family- and provider-focused interventions in partnership with improved health insurance coverage.