HHS WEEKLY REPORT
November 17 - November 23, 2003

THIS ISSUE AVAILABLE ONLINE WITH EXPANDED INFORMATION AND PHOTOS AT:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/newsletter/weekly

IN THIS ISSUE:
1) President Calls on Congress to "Finish the Job" - Pass a Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit for Seniors
2) Statement by Tommy G. Thompson
3) Secretary Thompson Hosts Prevention Roundtable
4) HHS Launches New Campaign To Curb Growing Diabetes Epidemic In Hispanics
5) Secretary Thompson's Public Schedule:

President Calls on Congress to "Finish the Job" - Pass a Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit for Seniors

President Bush visited Englewood Neighborhood Center in Orlando, Florida, Nov. 15 to meet with seniors and discuss his commitment to improving Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage and enabling seniors to have more choices to their health coverage. Over the weekend the congressional conferees reached an agreement on Medicare modernization legislation that includes a prescription drug benefit, expanded coverage for preventive medicine and more choices in health care (see below for Secretary Thompson's statement).

To underscore the President's commitment to Medicare reform, senior Administration officials spoke to senior citizens in five major cities across the country about the importance of passing a Medicare prescription drug benefit. The President's remarks were simulcast live via video to the meetings with these officials:

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Statement by Tommy G. Thompson

Secretary of Health and Human Services On Medicare Legislation

I commend the conferees for reaching an agreement in principle on Medicare legislation to provide more choices and better benefits to America's seniors, and I look forward to working with the full Congress so we can get the job done in the coming days.

We must come together and take advantage of this opportunity to finally deliver modern medicine in a modern way for Medicare beneficiaries. That includes access to preventive care, new protection against high out-of-pocket costs for extended hospital stays, and a prescription drug benefit.

The members of the conference committee performed exceptional work on a complex issue. They have come up with a bipartisan bill, and we can't let partisan politics derail this legislation. We urge Congress to finish the job and provide seniors with prescription drug coverage, better benefits and more choices in health care.

For more information on the President's Medicare Modernization plan please visit www.whitehouse.gov.

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Secretary Thompson Hosts Prevention Roundtable

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson is hosting a health professional's roundtable in Washington, D.C., Nov. 18. The roundtable is part of a series that aims to communicate the importance of chronic disease prevention and the pivotal role health professionals play in addressing this challenge.

"Too many individuals are risking their long-term health through inactivity, overweight and obesity, and poor diet," Secretary Thompson said. "The better we are at communicating our message to Americans about maintaining better health and wellness, the faster our quality of life will improve for our children and ourselves."

During the roundtable Secretary Thompson will discuss how he has made disease prevention and health promotion a key initiative in this administration. Other topics will include sharing best practices in prevention and achieving better integration of education curricula so it may be disseminated into all levels of behavioral and social science.

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HHS Launches New Campaign To Curb Growing Diabetes Epidemic In Hispanics

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced a new public awareness campaign to help Hispanics at risk for developing type 2 diabetes take the small steps necessary to prevent this devastating disease. The campaign reflects that, while diabetes is a growing epidemic for Hispanics, a recent landmark study found that type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented in those at risk for the disease.

HHS' National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) developed the "Prevengamos la diabetes tipo 2. Paso a Paso" (We Can Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: Step by Step) campaign in response to the results of the Diabetes Prevention Program clinical trial. The study found that by losing a small amount of weight, limiting fat and caloric intake, and exercising 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, participants dramatically reduced their risk for diabetes by more than half. More than 500 Hispanics participated in the clinical trial. "With 'Paso a Paso,' we are asking Hispanics to find out if they are at risk for diabetes, and we're showing them how to take action to prevent it," Secretary Thompson said. "The key is regular physical activity and modest weight loss-as little as ten pounds. I want to encourage people to take this message of good health to their families and their communities, so we can put an end to the diabetes epidemic."

Diabetes in the Hispanic community has reached epidemic proportions. Of the 30 million Hispanics living in the United States, about 2 million have diagnosed diabetes. Untreated, type 2 diabetes can lead to a number of serious health problems, including blindness, amputation, and kidney and heart disease. Millions of Hispanics have pre-diabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. Risk factors for pre-diabetes include family history, ethnicity, and being overweight.

As part of this new diabetes prevention effort, HHS is also unveiling a new music CD to help Hispanics get more physical activity to prevent type 2 diabetes. Performed by a diverse group of Hispanic recording artists, MOVIMIENTO, Por Su Vida (Movement, For Your Life) is a collection of six original songs with a Latin dance beat and lyrics that celebrate life in an effort to promote physical activity as a way to stay healthy and help prevent diabetes.

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Secretary Tommy G. Thompson's public schedule:

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Last updated November 17, 2003
United States Department of Health and Human Services
Contact the HHS Newsletter Team.