It came to my attention while watching Neil Cavuto
today that beginning in 2014, the Federal Government
is going to require the electronic reporting of
everyone's BMI (body mass index) by all health care
providers as part of Obamacare.
Sec 4103

(a) COVERAGE OF PERSONALIZED PREVENTION PLAN SERVICES.-
(1) IN GENERAL.-Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended…
(b) PERSONALIZED PREVENTION PLAN SERVICES DEFINED.-Section
1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
''Annual Wellness Visit

''(hhh)(1) The term 'personalized prevention plan services'
means the creation of a plan for an individual-
''(A) that includes a health risk assessment (that meets
the guidelines established by the Secretary under paragraph
(4)(A)) of the individual that is completed prior to or as part
of the same visit with a health professional described in paragraph
(3); and

''(B) that-
''(i) takes into account the results of the health risk
assessment; and
''(ii) may contain the elements described in paragraph
(2).
''(2) Subject to paragraph (4)(H), the elements described in
this paragraph are the following:
''(A) The establishment of, or an update to, the individual's
medical and family history.
''(B) A list of current providers and suppliers that are
regularly involved in providing medical care to the individual
(including a list of all prescribed medications).
H. R. 3590-436
''(C) A measurement of height, weight, body mass index
(or waist circumference, if appropriate), blood pressure, and
other routine measurements.
''(D) Detection of any cognitive impairment.
''(E) The establishment of, or an update to, the following:
''(i) A screening schedule for the next 5 to 10 years,
as appropriate, based on recommendations of the United
States Preventive Services Task Force and the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices, and the individual's
health status, screening history, and age-appropriate
preventive services covered under this title.
''(ii) A list of risk factors and conditions for which
primary, secondary, or tertiary prevention interventions
are recommended or are underway, including any mental
health conditions or any such risk factors or conditions
that have been identified through an initial preventive
physical examination (as described under subsection
(ww)(1)), and a list of treatment options and their associated
risks and benefits.
''(F) The furnishing of personalized health advice and a
referral, as appropriate, to health education or preventive counseling
services or programs aimed at reducing identified risk
factors and improving self-management, or community-based
lifestyle interventions to reduce health risks and promote selfmanagement
and wellness, including weight loss, physical
activity, smoking cessation, fall prevention, and nutrition.
''(G) Any other element determined appropriate by the
Secretary….
''(4)(A) For purposes of paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary, not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection,
shall establish publicly available guidelines for health risk assessments.
Such guidelines shall be developed in consultation with
relevant groups and entities and shall provide that a health risk
assessment-
''(i) identify chronic diseases, injury risks, modifiable risk
factors, and urgent health needs of the individual; and
''(ii) may be furnished-
''(I) through an interactive telephonic or web-based
program that meets the standards established under
subparagraph (B);
''(II) during an encounter with a health care professional;
''(III) through community-based prevention programs;
or
''(IV) through any other means the Secretary determines
appropriate to maximize accessibility and ease of
use by beneficiaries, while ensuring the privacy of such
beneficiaries.
I am not yet aware of what other health indicators have to be
reported, but the BMI is one that could be used against you in
seeking employment or a promotion, allowing you to purchase
insurance, or even in deciding whether or not to retain you in
a position. And given the need to Pay for Obamacare, there could
even in the future be a panel that would decide you were not
entitled to certain health care procedures, or could even be
placed in a different tax bracket. While many of the things in
your medical record do not lend themselves to such instant evaluation,
BMI most decidedly does.
The information is guaranteed as well to not remain within even
the privacy of a governmental office, much less your personal health record. A later
provision in the Act provides for "community-based organizations"
(such as ACORN- and Chris Dodd has already admitted they would qualify)
to be given grants to establish independent "Wellness" counsels to monitor
your records, provide health improvement plans, and monitor and report-on
how you are complying with their plan.