The health care reform bill approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) would provide federal grants to state and local governments and a "national network of community-based organizations" to "promote healthy living and reduce disparities" and to monitor people's weight, eating, exercise habits and other individual behaviors that affect health at the community level.
In a section entitled, "Community-Based Prevention Health Activities," the bill calls on grant recipients to measure weight loss, physical activity, smoking and other activities of people in the neighborhood.
"In carrying out subparagraph (A), the eligible entity shall, with respect to residents in the community, measure--"'Smith!' screamed the shrewish voice from the telescreen. '6079 Smith W.! Yes, you! Bend lower, please! You can do better than that. You're not trying. Lower, please! That's better, comrade. Now stand at ease, the whole squad, and watch me.'"
- decreases in weight;
- increases in proper nutrition;
- increases in physical activity;
- decreases in tobacco use prevalence;
- other factors using community-specific data from the Behavioral Risk Surveillance Survey; and
- other factors as determined by the Secretary [at HHS]."
Off by 25 years...