LiveWell Launches Physical Activity Prescription Program

Ginny Barnard
LiveWell of Douglas County
Executive Director

A new program, Move More Douglas County, aims to increase access to physical activity opportunities for patients by providing financial scholarships for those activities. Health care providers at LMH Health and Heartland Community Health Center will provide physical activity prescriptions to qualifying patients who are newly diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes. Patients can then redeem their prescription at the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department to use on a variety of aquatics, fitness, or personal training classes.

Ginny Barnard, Executive Director of LiveWell Douglas County, shared her excitement working with community partners to find creative solutions, like the physical activity prescription program, to address health inequities. “Being active has so many great health benefits, everything from sleeping better, feeling happier to managing blood sugar and blood pressure. The Move More Douglas County program will hopefully support the integration of physical activity into patient care plans.”

Funding for the new program comes from a community grant initiative, Pathways to a Healthy Kansas, launched by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) in 2016. It partners with community coalitions like LiveWell Douglas County to improve active living, healthy eating and commercial tobacco prevention across the state.

“The work being done through Pathways represents our sustained commitment to Kansas communities, and our belief that healthier communities benefit us all,” said Virginia Barnes, BCBSKS Director of Blue Health Initiatives. “Our friends at LiveWell Douglas County are doing great work to ensure local residents have opportunities to make healthy choices to improve their well-being.”