At Old Dominion, Moran announces health plan

NORFOLK

Banning trans fats in school lunches and increasing support for loan repayment by doctors, nurses and support personnel are key pieces of a "Prevention First" heath plan that gubernatorial candidate Brian Moran announced Tuesday.

Moran emphasized the need to improve children's health to prevent more costly medical problems in the future.

"It's critical to start early so that they can be healthy adults," Moran said during his announcement at Old Dominion University.

Moran already has said he wants to provide health insurance for every child, including changing the eligibility rules for Virginia's Family Access to Medical Insurance Security plan. Tuesday's announcement contained four points:

- Expanding childhood vaccination services.

- Reducing the infant mortality rate by expanding access to prenatal care and coordinating community and faith-based groups to educate new parents about "healthy starts," nutrition and prevent ive health care.

- Tackling childhood obesity by requiring healthful lunches and barring foods containing trans fats, which have been linked to heart disease and stroke. He also wants more physical education in schools.

- Strengthening the medical work force by increasing incentives to join the profession, increasing support for more scholarships and college loan repayment by doctors, nurses and support staff, and getting colleges to train more people in medical fields.

Moran said he hasn't put a price tag on his plan but said that some of the items are low-cost, including increasing physical education in schools.

"Every dollar spent in prevention yields $5 in savings," he said.

Moran is competing in a June 9 Democratic primary for governor against state Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former national party leader Terry McAuliffe of Fairfax County. The winner will face Attorney General Bob McDonnell, the sole Republican candidate.

Denise Watson Batts, (757) 446-2504, denise.batts@pilotonline.com