Improving disease care processes in hospitals can actually lead to a decrease in the "bottom line" as patients require less care or less complex care. How can we change the role of the hospital for true healthcare?

Design methods to measure the cost savings from preventative health care and use those to drive policy and public/ professional awareness.

Most of these other initiatives would require analysis of data to determine their success, but analysis depends on standardized, structured data that is accessible for analysis. Can we build collaborations in NC to set an example for the country while still protecting patient privacy?

Create a state initiative to bring awareness to the problem of obesity, introduce programs to reduce it, and inspire all citizens to become healthier and lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

Create the infrastructure to fund education and healthy environments in counties that experience cost-savings from state funded health programs.

Support proper licensing of healthcare providers (e.g. naturopathic physicians)

Develop policy to require menu labeling in all NC restaurants.

Develop policies to remove unhealthy foods and drinks from K-12 schools.

Develop sample zoning policies that encourage healthy lifestyles and that can be implemented at the local level.

Encourage the NC Department of Transportation to adopt policies that support 100% of sidewalks and add funding for greenways.

Develop a statute that identifies the curriculum components of a K-12 obesity prevention program, similar to that of state’s abstinence/sex education law.

Require the NC Department of Public Instruction to develop a standardized curriculum for high school students in healthcare sector workforce development programs.

Integrate school health programs into existing funding sources (e.g. Use part of the $400 million Race to the Top funding to support telemedicine).

Develop a process to align reimbursement rates (e.g. telemedicine at the same rate as an office visit, licensed acupuncture provider at the same rate as a physician with some training in acupuncture)

Develop new reimbursement opportunities for evidence-based, patient centered practices and providers (e.g. complementary and alternative medicine, behavioral health linked to physical health (integrated health) and diagnostic tests for pre-diabetes).

Modify incentives to reward value (higher quality, lower cost, improved customer service) in purchasing healthcare services.

Develop a process to expand the number of health insurers that recognize and incent high-performance healthcare providers.