It has become increasingly difficult to keep track of the various options under consideration for proceeding with health care reform since the MA special election this week.  As the Trust for America's health reported in their Daily Digest, it is tough to predict whether there will there be a Senate bill plus reconciliation; reconciliation only; separate smaller bills; a scaled down package or something yet to be determined...or nothing at all.  The real key for physical activity advocates is to continue to communicate to Congress that "REAL HEALTH REFORM STARTS WITH PREVENTION".  The Trust For America's Health, Executive Director, Jeff Levi recently provided an excellent case for just that in an article entitled, Prevention: An Impetus for Moving Health Reform Forward. 

In addition to your own members of Congress, now is the time to get in touch with your contacts in both Congressional leadership and the Administration and advocate particularly for the strongest possible Prevention and Public Health Fund and Community Health Center Fund/Public Health Investment Fund.  Rich Hamburg of the Trust For America's Health reminds advocates that both of these elements meet all of the criteria that we’re hearing about:  positive impact; strong public support; bi-partisan Congressional support; and year one implementation.   He goes on to remind advocates that although keeping the  prevention title under the radar screen has worked effectively to date, past lessons learned during crunch time debates have taught us to take nothing for granted.  It is imperative that organizations and their members contact Congress and the Whitehouse now.