GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

S                                                                                                                                                    D

SENATE DRS55540-MGz-94A*  (4/12)

Short Title:        Screen and Reduce BMI Levels in Children.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senators Purcell,  Dannelly, Davis, Preston, Tillman, and Walters.
Referred to:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO explore ways to implement BODY MASS INDEX SCREENING for certain children who are at risk of becoming obese AND to reduce BODY MASS INDEX LEVELS FOR all CHILDREN, as recommended by the legislative task force on childhood obesity.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance, shall explore the feasibility of requiring Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) to implement body mass index (BMI) screening for children at risk of becoming obese and developing diabetes or other chronic diseases, who are receiving Medicaid or participating in the North Carolina Health Choice for Children Program.

SECTION 1.(b)  As part of its exploration into the feasibility of requiring BMI screening pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Department shall work toward the development of each of the following items:

(1)        Establishing performance goals within each CCNC network that includes each of the following components:

a.         Care management for children who are at risk of becoming obese and developing diabetes or other chronic diseases.

b.         Annual BMI screening to identify the percentage of children who have a BMI test and the percentage of children who have a decrease in BMI levels.

(2)        Developing a uniform protocol across the CCNC network to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of information collected through BMI screening.

(3)        Implementing reliable methods of collecting data utilizing fitness assessment and reporting programs for youth that include health-related physical fitness tests to assess aerobic capacity; muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility; and body composition.

SECTION 2.  The Department shall require CCNC networks to collaborate with local health departments, county departments of social services, Eat Smart, Move More coalitions, and local education agencies on ways to reduce BMI levels in all children.

SECTION 3.  Not later than September 1, 2011, the Department shall report its findings and recommendations to the Legislative Task Force on Childhood Obesity, if reestablished for the 2011-2012 Session, to the Public Health Commission, and to the Fiscal Research Division.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.