By contacting our lawmakers through legislative visits, attending lobby days, sending e-mails, and your phone calls, we can achieve our goals and make Missouri a healthier place to live in 2010. If you haven't already, please sign up for You're The Cure!
- Acute Stroke Care
Support legislation that would designate/certify Primary Stroke Centers based on Joint Commission certification or equivalent process. Thus, all hospitals who promote themselves as providing the highest level of stroke care within the state, must receive certification by the Joint Commission or equivalent body offering stroke specific certification. In addition to this, the American heart Association supports the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa healthcare Collaborative as to establishing a plan to address a statewide stroke registry and triage system, taking into account triage plans for the southern counties of Iowa.
- Acute Cardiovascular Care
Support strong emergency response system critical in savings the lives of victims of heart attack, cardiac arrest and stroke. Research and support funding opportunities for 12-lead EKGs. Promote and support nationally recognized EMS dispatch protocols and the placement of AEDs in appropriate public places. Promote and support CPR in schools via the Healthy Kids Act with an emphasis on hands-on coursework
- Obesity Prevention
Support quality physical activity and strong nutrition policies, programs and further research necessary to effectively treat and prevent obesity. Support any legislation that would require all students to have a quality physical education as an integral part of K-12 education (specifically 150 minutes each week for elementary students and 225 a week for middle school students). Support nutrition policies that are consistent with the beverage, snack, and reimbursable guidelines for the Healthy Schools program. Educate legislative and agency officials on the prevalence, burden, and risk factors of obesity in Iowa.
- Tobacco Control
Support Statewide Clean Indoor Air legislation: The American Heart Association’s position for Clean Indoor Air law in Iowa: 100% smoke free public places, including casinos. This is a policy that costs virtually nothing yet greatly impacts our health. It is time to protect all Iowans, especially those who are employed by casinos.
- Tobacco Control
Support an Increase to the Excise tax: Currently with its state cigarette excise tax at 1.36 cents per pack, Iowa remains below the national average state cigarette tax ($1.45). While increased taxes have not been a subject pursued by Iowa Legislature in that last two years, the economic crisis may support the need to consider an increase. Health organizations will have to bid with the rest of those needing money because all of these funds would go into the state general fund. Even so, the purest form of raising tobacco tax means that for every ten percent increase in tobacco taxes, there is a seven percent reduction in teen usage and four percent reduction in adult usage. Iowa is currently 25th in the nation with its $1.36 cents tax.
Across the Midwest Affiliate, we engage advocates on our state blogs. Each blog provides an exclusive, current information source for You’re the Cure advocates and others who want to join the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association in the fight against heart disease and stroke. Keep up-to-date on state policy issues, check out what is going on in the media and let us know what you are doing as a You’re the Cure advocate!
Visit heartofiowa.blogspot.com
Join our page “You’re the Cure: Midwest Clicks for Hearts” at www.facebook.com/heartofthemidwest
Make sure all your friends and family know you care about advocating for heart issues on Facebook! Our facebook page has posts from all the states in our affiliate and highlights successes and opportunities in advocacy for heart and stroke issues. (IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD, WI)
For more information about advocacy in Iowa, please contact:Kevin Walker American Heart Association | Stacy Frelund Government Relations Manager, Iowa Des Moines Regional Office (515) 246-4563 Christy Dreiling Regional Grassroots Advocacy Director - Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri (913) 652-191 |
