Michael Bousselot Explains Iowa's 'Healthiest State Initiative'

Michael Bousselot, policy advisor, Office of the Governor for the state of Iowa, believes that The Healthiest State Initiative effectively improves the populations’ health and wellbeing because it is privately led and publicly endorsed. He says that the initiative has already demonstrated “real results,” moving Iowa from 19th to 10th in the Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index over the past several years.

“Governor [Terry] Branstad is never going to be the sort that advocates for bans on Big Gulps,” Mr Bousselot says. “He is the kind of governor who believes that making the right choice, the easy choice, and empowering Iowans with the right tools will allow our states health to improve and our wellbeing to get better.”

Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative encourages residents to seek physician services, create better partnerships between employees and their employers, and makes communities more “walk-able.” Mr Bousselot adds that the initiative helps businesses economically by lowering operation costs, and improving the health of corporate workforces. Such improvements, Mr Bousselot says, are “seen and felt by Iowans already.”