A milestone -- School lunch made it into the NEJM. Scroll way down. The updated Academy Position Paper Food and Water Safety was published in the November 2014 Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. You can access this position paper on the Academy Web site at: http://www.eatright.org/About/Content.aspx?id=8362 You can access the other Academy position and practice papers at: http://www.eatright.org/positions/ Strengthening Programs that Impact Children's Nutrition The Academy's Child Nutrition Reauthorization Work Group, tasked with creation of the Academy's recommendations for how to improve and support child nutrition programs, has begun their work with the review of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC), Child and Adult Care Feeding Program, and Farm to School Program. The Work Group has also discussed, in detail, the important role and benefit of nutrition education to children's health. These programs are vitally important to the health of millions of children, from before birth through young adulthood. USA Today Examines Underutilization of Obesity Treatment in Medicare Despite 30% of Medicare beneficiaries having obesity, a mere 1% is taking advantage of the intensive behavioral therapy for obesity benefit. USA Today confirms<http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/11/15/obesity-counseling-benefits-fails-to-entice-seniors-doctors/18914149/> some of the biggest problems are those that would be ameliorated by the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act: “Experts blame the government's failure to promote the program, rules that limit where and when patients can go for counseling and the relatively low level of reimbursement fees for providers.” The Academy continues to work with Congress and with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to ensure the most qualified and effective providers—including registered dietitian nutritionists—are able to independently provide and bill for these counseling services. Can Social Media Comments Grab the Attention of Congress? Check out this article<http://connectivity.cqrollcall.com/just-a-handful-of-social-media-comments-can-grab-attention-of-congress-study-shows/>! Is this the direction of the future of our advocacy work. From ON THE PULSE – EAT RIGHT WEEKLY: Academy Supports New Diabetes Screening Recommendation The Academy has submitted comments to the United States Preventive Services Task Force on its draft recommendation statement on screening for abnormal glucose and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Learn More >><http://www.eatright.org/members/eatrightweekly/article.aspx?folderid=6442452716&mycontentid=6442482948> New England Journal of Medicine Article: Protect Nutrition Standards in School Meals A new article published in the New England Journal of Medicine highlights the importance of protecting nutrition standards that were recently implemented in the school meals program. The authors summarize recent challenges of implementation while encouraging stakeholders, including the Academy and school nutrition professionals, to maintain the course established by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Learn More >><http://www.eatright.org/members/eatrightweekly/article.aspx?folderid=6442452716&mycontentid=6442482949> Judy Klavens-Giunta,RDN Policy and Advocacy Leader PHCN PG -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PHCNPG" To post to this group, send email to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.