San Antonio named one of America's health policy leaders

What they did: CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, evaluates 75 of the nation's largest metros on 12 evidence-based policies tied to housing, public spaces, early education and healthy environments.

• San Antonio is one of eight cities to earn an overall gold medal, along with Boston, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Portland, Oregon, and St. Louis.

State of play: San Antonio earned gold medals in six categories: affordable housing trusts; complete streets; green space; healthy food purchasing; high-quality and accessible pre-K; and smoke-free indoor air.

• The city earned bronze in eco-friendly purchasing.

Yes, but: While the gold medal recognizes progress, gaps remain, particularly in renter protections, tobacco restrictions and safer alcohol sales.

What they're saying: "Health doesn't start in the clinic — it starts in the communities where people live, learn, work, and play," Bechara Choucair, executive vice president and chief health officer at Kaiser Permanente, said in a statement.