Health-care providers declare war on fat - East Bay Business Times:

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The voluntary campaign by selected memberss of theWalnut Creek-basedf involves filling 50 percent of the space in vending machines at more than 140 worksitw locations with healthy snacksa and beverages, such as water and fruit juice. Abouty 62,000 employees and 470 vending machines will beaffectedx statewide. Although supported by IHA's board, the progranm is voluntary and "members cited in the releases are the first waveof supporters" from the said Leslie Rose, an IHA Rose said the groupl plans to "actively" recruit other health-care employers and trade groups to join in the effort.
It decider to participate following a leadership summitf with statewide experts on theobesity crisis, official said. Participating organizations, many of them major employerws inCalifornia include: Four major health plans - , HNT), , . Four medical groups - , , San Ramon'w and . One major hospital systen - Sacramento-based . One insurance brokerage/consultant - Health Net and PacifiCarde are considering taking theprogramk nationwide, officials said. The companies have agree d to providehealthy products, defined as "producte that are lower in saturatexd fat, sugar and sodium and free of transd fat" - in vending machines next to sodas and candy bars.
Healthy snacks will be selectede according to nutrition guidelinexs approved by the IHA Officials said the move marks the first time aCaliforniw health-care association has taken collective action on this issue. The associationb will also take two other stepes toaddress obesity: Collecf and publicly publish data on outcomesx of bariatric surgery - weight-loss surgery for the morbidly obese - to help inform consumers and health-care providers. Add obesity-relate measures as part of its Pay for Performance program, a nationally known effort that pays bonusees to doctors who meet various quality and otherf performance standards.
The so-called P4P initiativ e currently includes sevenhealtb plans, 45,000 doctors, 215 medical groups and 6.2 millio n health-plan enrollees, according to IHA.