Policy Recommendations for Chronic Diseases
- Expand eligibility and administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- Increase access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetables through commodity programs and support healthy foods in food assistance programs.
- Create and expand healthier retail food outlets to eliminate food deserts.
- Implement the Safe Routes to School law.
- Support built environment policies that promote physical activity.
- Fund and promote awareness programs for chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
- Improve physical education curriculum and requirements in public schools.
- Increase funding for public transportation maintenance.
- Expand and increase tobacco cessation programming.
- Increase funding for the state Quitline.
- Create tobacco-free environments and enforce clean indoor air laws.
- Increase the purchase price of tobacco products.
- Remove barriers to non-emergency medical transportation to increase health care access.
- Authorize community health workers (CHWs) to provide services such as blood pressure screening and to work in multidisciplinary health care teams.
Chronic disease data can be viewed here.
References