Gov. Branstad announces health initiative for Iowa

DES MOINES (AP) ? Gov. Terry Branstad launched an effort Wednesday to make Iowa the nation?s healthiest state by 2016, an effort he acknowledged would be difficult but one he said could result in big cost-savings and better lives.

Branstad introduced the ?Healthiest State Initiative,? which will be funded by $25 million from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

The effort will focus on 10 Iowa cities over five years, but Branstad didn?t offer specifics about how the communities would be selected or what programs would be offered to residents.

Tim Albrecht, a spokesman for the governor, said the state will announce the selection process and detail how the program will work in September.

Albrecht said the state won?t spend taxpayer money on the project.

Branstad said Iowans ?have to start somewhere.?

?I think the only way to solve the health care crisis in America is if we can get the American people to take ownership of their own,? he said.

Branstad said the effort would help Iowans become healthier and improve their quality of life. He also said it could save the state up to $16 billion over five years through reduced health care costs and higher productivity.

Janet Calhoun, a co-director for the project, said cities selected to take part in the program would likely see improvements such as more bike lanes and efforts to make their communities more ?walkable.? Wellmark also has plans for cooking classes, community gardens and outreach to local schools and businesses.

Calhoun said a pilot project in Albert Lea, Minn., in 2008 and 2009 helped residents lose an average of 2.3 pounds per person.

First lady Michelle Obama, who has led a campaign in support of healthy food and against childhood obesity, issued a statement that lauded the Iowa effort. She credited Branstad for ?leading the way to ensure our kids lead healthy, active lives.?

Iowa begins the effort with a mixed record of health indicators.

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds noted that 66 percent of Iowans are overweight or obese.

Iowa ranked 19th nationally in a Gallup-Healthways survey for 2010 for overall well-being, but it dropped 12 spots from 2009. The survey, based on interviews with about 350,000 people, scored states in six health categories.

?We?ve slipped in the recent year, and we need to turn that around,? Branstad said. ?We want to turn that around as quickly as we can, but we?re trying to be realistic about it.?

Hawaii ranked first overall in the 2010 index, followed by Wyoming and North Dakota. Border states Minnesota and Nebraska made the top 10, though Iowa finished ahead of Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri.

Cedar Rapids ranked seventh nationally for overall well-being among mid-sized cities.

Though Iowa did relatively well in the survey, it ranked 34th in healthy behavior, such as not smoking, exercising and healthy eating.

Reducing the number of smokers could also be a big challenge.

Division of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Director Bonnie Mapes recently took early retirement after the Legislature cut her division?s budget was cut from $7.8 million to $2.8 million.

Branstad and Department of Public Health Director Mariannette Miller-Meeks acknowledged the need to fit anti-smoking efforts into a tight budget.

?[Miller-Meeks] will be restructuring the program to make sure that the limited resources that we have are used as effectively as possible,? Branstad said.