Latest news with #HealthandHumanServices
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Trump plan eases sharing of computerized health records
Trump touted the idea of eliminating redundancies such as filling out paperwork at multiple health providers offices. "This will allow patients to easily transmit information from one doctor to another," Trump said during a July 30 briefing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz. Trump emphasized the initiative will be voluntary and require patients to opt in. He added there will be no centralized, government-run database storing patients' personal records. "People are very concerned about the personal records," Trump said. "That's their choice ... it will be absolutely quiet." Large hospital systems and some doctors allow patients to share health information, fill out forms and schedule appointments through websites and mobile apps. And health tech companies have developed apps that allow people to track their health information, but these apps often can't access medical records from health providers, said Amy Gleason, acting administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Companies operating 21 networks have agreed to an "interoperability framework" to meet Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services criteria, according to the Trump administration. Hospital systems and electronic health records vendors have agreed to cooperate in the effort, according to CMS. Participating apps would help people manage obesity and diabetes, including the use of AI assistants to help check symptoms or schedule appointments, CMS said. Privacy, data security remain top worries The health care industry and tech companies have been attempting to reduce paperwork and seamlessly share electronic health records for three decades, said Chris Pierson, CEO of BlackCloak, an Orlando, Florida-based cybersecurity company. Hospitals, doctors, labs and vendors that directly handle such sensitive medical records are subject to a federal privacy law, called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. To make health information and records more portable and accessible, consumers need to be guaranteed strong privacy protections and granted control over what information is shared, Pierson said. A consumer might be willing to share their sensitive information with doctors, hospitals or labs. But the same person might want to block an app from sharing records with third parties such as exercise equipment vendors or nutritional supplement retailers. Pierson said such apps would likely still need to comply with HIPAA and other federal and state laws. Given that the apps are voluntary and require consent, they likely would comply with privacy laws, Pierson said. Companies also would need to safeguard information technology security to protect the sensitive information from data breaches. Hackers target health records Digital medical records are a popular target for hackers seeking sensitive health information, bank records and a person's identifiable information such as dates of birth and Social Security numbers. The number of attacks has surged in recent years and are often carried out by organized hackers, often operating overseas, who target the computer systems of health providers and the vendors and companies that serve them. HHS investigates whether breaches involve violations of health information privacy and security laws and publicly reports attacks that affect 500 or more on its website. In July alone, more than two dozen data breaches compromised the records of more than 3 million people, HHS records show. The largest hack in recent years involved the February 2024 attack on UnitedHealth-owned subsidiary Change Healthcare. The attack disrupted the health care industry because doctors and hospitals were unable to collect payments for weeks when computer systems went down.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Trump will bring back push up, mile run test for school kids
Counting push ups in the gym. On July 31, President Donald Trump will sign an executive order that reestablishes the Presidential Fitness Test for teens and preteens in America's public schools, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The fitness test requires students to complete a range of physical challenges ranging from sit-ups to pull-ups. "MAKE AMERICA FIT AGAIN!" Leavitt wrote in a post on X. The Presidential Fitness Test was a part of American physical education classes from the time it was first initiated by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956 to the 2012-2013 school year. That's when President Barack Obama replaced it with a program designed to focus on long-term student health over physical performance. Donald Trump invites athletes To White House as he reinstates Presidential Fitness Test What does Trump's order say? The executive order says the Trump administration is reintroducing the test in the nation's public schools because of the high rates of obesity and chronic disease in the United States. Trump directed Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to renew the test. The president also reestablished the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, formerly known as the President's Council on Youth Fitness, created by Eisenhower in 1956. The White House called the move an attempt "to develop bold and innovative fitness goals for young Americans with the aim of fostering a new generation of healthy, active citizens." Trump directed the reestablished council to create school-based programs that "reward excellence in physical education and develop criteria for a Presidential Fitness Award" in his order. "This Order ensures American youth will have opportunities at the global, national, State, and local levels that emphasize the importance of an active lifestyle, good nutrition, American sports, and military readiness," the White House said in a statement to USA TODAY. Why did the Presidential Fitness Test go away? The Obama administration replaced the Presidential Fitness Test with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program to shift the focus on physical fitness in schools away from student performance and toward students' overall health as they grow into adulthood. "The program minimizes comparisons between children and instead supports students as they pursue personal fitness goals for lifelong health," reads a previous description of the program from the Department of Health and Human Services website. Paul Roetert, former chief executive officer of the Society of Health and Physical Educators, said at the time that it was implemented "to keep fitness in a positive mode," Education Week reported in 2012."Children's individual fitness scores will not be used as a criteria for grading in physical education class and will be confidential between the teacher, student and parent," Roetert said. Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, also supported the change when it was implemented more than a decade ago, the news outlet reported. "This assessment will be a great way to evaluate the health impact of physical education programs in schools and allow for a standardized comparison of fitness levels of children across the country," Brown said. Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@ Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Trump revives Presidential Fitness Test: What exercises are to be done; what's the award
'Make America Fit Again' was the mantra as US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, which revived the Presidential Fitness Test. President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order restarting the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, from left, professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, WWE CCO Triple H and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. watch.(AP) The controversial relic of the Cold War era had been abandoned by the Obama administration back in 2012. However, Trump, flanked by sports personalities including WWE's chief content officer, Triple H, brought back the test, with the US President speaking about his love for sports on the occasion. 'For far too long, the physical and mental health of the American people has been neglected. Rates of obesity, chronic disease, inactivity, and poor nutrition are at crisis levels, particularly among our children. These trends weaken our economy, military readiness, academic performance, and national morale,' Trump observed. What is the Presidential Fitness Test? Former President Eisenhower formed the President's Council on Youth Fitness in 1956, at a time when there were concerns about Americans underperforming, in terms of physical strength, as compared to their US counterparts. Also Read | 'Why is Triple H here?': Internet asks as Trump restores fitness test in schools The study, which was popular at the time, sought to measure muscle strength through six exercises. It had found that 58 per cent American children failed in at least one area, as compared with the single digit share when it came to European kids. Eisenhower sought to reverse this and achieve a 'more completely fit American youth'. John F Kennedy, as president-elect, built on this in December 1960, when he published a piece titled 'The Soft American' in Sports Illustrated. Later, the council formalized the Presidential Physical Fitness Award Program, when Lyndon B Johnson was president. A system was then created so students performing in the top 15 per cent would get an award from the President. What is in the Presidential Fitness Test? While individual activities in the Presidential Fitness Test has changed with time, Harvard Health Publishing notes that five core items have remained the same, namely, a 1-mile run; pullups or pushups; sit-ups; shuttle run; and the sit-and-reach. While reviving the test, Trump notes that he wants 'bold and innovative fitness goals for American youth with the aim of fostering a new generation of healthy, active citizens.' What does the Presidential Fitness Award include? The Presidential Fitness Award included a certificate, signed by the President of the United States, and a blue patch with an embroidered American eagle. 'Inspired by the initial Presidential Fitness Challenge in my youth, I remain very active and fit. I have completed seven Ironman distance triathlons and ten marathons. My wife and I race several times a year. It's our lifestyle choice,' Michael Nagel, President and CEO of Vomaris Innovations, had shared.
India Today
7 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Trump brings back Presidential Fitness Test for American school children
US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday (local time) via signing an executive order to reinstate the Presidential Fitness Test for American school children, a program originally launched in 1966 to promote active lifestyles amongst the youth. The initiative, which was reshaped in 2012 under the Obama administration to focus more on individual health metrics, will now return to its roots with an emphasis on physical performance. Trump signed the executive order to reinstate the Presidential Fitness Test in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS TEST The fitness test will include classic components such as running, a one-mile run, sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups and sit-and-reach and flexibility assessments. Trump will also reinstate the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, led by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which will develop criteria for a new Presidential Fitness Award. TRUMP'S SPORTING AGENDA The move to revive the Presidential Fitness test aligns with Trump's long-standing interest in athletics, reflected in his frequent attendance at major sporting events and personal weekend golf routines. The announcement comes as the US prepares to host several global competitions, including the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Summer Olympics. 'This is an important step in our mission to make America healthy again,' Trump said from the Roosevelt Room of the White House. From the late 1950s until 2013, graduate scholars all across our country competed against each other in the Presidential Fitness Test, and it was a big deal. Furthermore, he said, "This was a wonderful tradition, and we're bringing it back.' According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the president aims to foster 'a culture of strength and excellence' amongst future generations. The ceremony at the White House featured several athletes, including Bryson DeChambeau, Harrison Butker, Annika Sorenstam, Paul 'Triple H' Levesque, and Lawrence REACTIONS ON TEST'S REVIVALWhile the revival of the Presidential Fitness test has sparked enthusiasm amongst some advocates of physical education, experts caution that standardised testing alone may not yield lasting health benefits. Laura Richardson, a kinesiology professor at the University of Michigan, emphasised the importance of pairing assessments with educational programs tailored to individual student needs. 'It's not just, you get a score and you're doomed,' Richardson said. 'But you get a score, and we can figure out a program that really helps the improvement.' The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department continues to promote a model that supports personal fitness goals over competitive benchmarks, underscoring the need for a balanced approach to youth wellness.- EndsWith inputs from AP
Time Magazine
7 hours ago
- Health
- Time Magazine
Why Trump Is Reviving the Presidential Fitness Test
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday reviving the Presidential Fitness Test, the once-ubiquitous school program that for more than five decades had American children running miles, doing sit-ups, and stretching at least twice a year during gym class. The announcement is part of the Trump Administration's push to address 'crisis levels' of childhood obesity, sedentary behavior, and poor nutrition after Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released a report in May warning that American children are suffering from chronic diseases at an accelerating rate, largely due to inactivity. 'This was a wonderful tradition, and we're bringing it back,' Trump said at the signing ceremony flanked by a group of prominent and often controversial athletes, including Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker and former NFL linebacker Lawrence Taylor. 'This is an important step in our mission to Make America Healthy Again… What we're doing is very important.' The program, which was retired by President Barack Obama in 2012, involved testing students aged 6-17 on a series of exercises designed to measure strength, endurance and flexibility, including a timed mile run, push-ups or pull-ups, sit-ups and the sit-and-reach stretch. For decades, those who scored in the top percentiles received a Presidential Physical Fitness Award, while others were given a patch or certificate for participation. The revival has already sparked debate among educators and health experts. While some praise the Administration for putting national attention on youth fitness, others warn that the Presidential Fitness Test risks humiliating students who are unable to meet the criteria, potentially fostering a culture of body shaming in schools. Research has found that concerns about body image can emerge as early as age 3, and may become worse over time. But supporters of the move argue that a national standard can motivate students. 'We need to re-instill that spirit of competition and that spirit and that commitment to nutrition and physical fitness,' Kennedy said at the signing ceremony. 'For me, it was a huge item of pride when I was growing up.' Vice President J.D. Vance framed the initiative as part of a broader cultural shift: 'I think all of us have thought at one point in the last few years that kids spend a little too much time on their phones, maybe a little bit too much time in front of the TV,' Vance said Thursday. 'We just want kids to do better. We want them to be healthier.' Here's what to know about the Presidential Fitness Test program. What Is the Presidential Fitness Test? For more than five decades, the Presidential Fitness Test was a staple in public schools: children would complete a series of physical activities that measured strength, agility, and flexibility at least twice a year during gym class. Those activities included running one mile, sit-ups, pull ups, shuttle run, and the sit-and-reach. Students who scored at or above the 85th percentile in all of the tests could earn the Presidential Physical Fitness Award—a patch or certificate bearing the presidential seal, meant to inspire national pride and personal excellence. President Dwight D. Eisenhower first initiated the fitness test when he created the President's Council on Youth Fitness in 1956 after a study revealed that 58% of American children failed at least one of six exercise tests, such as sit-ups, while only 8.7% of European children failed at least one of the same tests. Sports Illustrated at the time called it 'The Report That Shocked the President.' 'Recent studies, both private and public, have revealed disturbing deficiencies in the fitness of American youth,' Eisenhower's executive order read. 'Since the youth of our Nation is one of the greatest of our assets, it is imperative that the fitness of our youth be improved and promoted to the greatest possible extent.' President John F. Kennedy then built on Eisenhower's efforts to create a 'more completely fit American youth,' writing in a Sports Illustrated piece called 'The Soft American' that kids' poor physical fitness was a 'menace' to national security. 'He was lamenting the fact that America had prided itself on a beef jerky toughness, and that we were losing—that we were falling behind Europeans, we were falling behind other nations,' his nephew Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said at the White House on Thursday. The fitness council created under Eisenhower then formalized the Presidential Physical Fitness Award Program under President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. 'It is essential that our young people develop their physical capabilities as well as their mental skills,' Johnson said in a statement announcing the awards program. 'Sports and other forms of active play promote good health and help provide our country with sturdy young citizens equal to the challenges of the future.' When and Why Did the Test Go Away? The Presidential Fitness Test was phased out during the Obama Administration in 2012 and replaced with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, a more individualized assessment that provided 'training and resources to schools for assessing, tracking, and recognizing youth fitness,' according to an HHS website about the program. Schools that adopted the program gained access to web-based tests, standards to testing, calculators for aerobic capacity and body composition, and online training. The initiative measured student fitness with an assessment called the FitnessGram, which measured aerobic capacity, body composition, flexibility, muscle strength, and muscular endurance. The shift came amid growing concerns about the Presidential Fitness Test's psychological impact on children and a broader pivot in public health thinking. Rather than rewarding top scorers, the new program emphasized 'personal bests' and offered resources to help educators and parents promote lifelong physical activity. HHS said that the Obama-era model aimed to 'minimize comparisons between children' and foster more inclusive approaches to health education. 'The new program has moved away from recognizing athletic performance to providing a barometer on student's health,' the HHS website read. 'The program minimizes comparisons between children and instead supports students as they pursue personal fitness goals for lifelong health.' Why Is Trump Bringing It Back? The Trump Administration says the move addresses what it calls 'crisis levels' of childhood obesity, sedentary behavior, and poor nutrition. A May report from the Department of Health and Human Services—led by Kennedy—warned that American children are suffering from chronic diseases at an accelerating rate, largely due to inactivity and poor diet. That report called for a nationwide campaign to combat what Kennedy described as a 'health emergency.' 'American youth have seen a steady decline in activity and cardiorespiratory fitness over decades, contributing to rising obesity, diabetes, mental health disorders, and cardiometabolic risks,' the report said, noting a study from the Physical Activity Alliance that found that more than 70% of children aged 6-17, or 85% in just teenagers, did not meet the 2024 federal minimum recommendation of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. In addition to reintroducing the test, Trump's order directs the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition to develop criteria for the new Presidential Fitness Award and create school programs that reward excellence in physical education. Golfer Bryson DeChambeau will serve as the council's chairman. Trump has often referred to himself as a sports enthusiast. He frequently attends major sporting events and on Thursday said he was 'always a person that loved playing sports.' 'I was good at sports,' Trump said. 'When you were really focused on sports, you thought about nothing else… This is one of the reasons I like golf. You get away for a couple of hours.'
