Getting to Universal Coverage and Access

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Congressional Briefing
Co-sponsored by Families USA and the Congressional Tri-Caucus

May 27, 2009 – The current debate in Congress about how to improve health and health care in our nation presents a historic opportunity to address fundamental inequities and move us closer to the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities. During a briefing, key experts explored the importance of achieving universal coverage and access as a critical step toward health equity.

Health disparities are staggering: People of color are more likely to lack health insurance coverage and to receive lower-quality care, and as a consequence, suffer from worse health outcomes and premature death. In order to eliminate this gap, health care reform must include strategies to expand coverage and increase access to vital services.

Panelists included:

Marsha Lillie-Blanton, Associate Research Professor, Department of Health Policy at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services and Senior Advisor on Race, Ethnicity and Health care at the Kaiser Family Foundation - Bio | View as Word Doc

• The Role of Health Coverage in Eliminating Disparities in Care
  View PowerPoint Presentation

Ron Pollack, Executive Director, Families USA - Bio | View as Word Doc

• Universal Coverage and Access: Critical to Achieving Health Equity
  View PowerPoint Presentation

Mohammed Akhter, Executive Director, National Medical Association - Bio | View as Word Doc

• Improving Delivery of Care and Outcomes (and Reducing Disparities)
  View PowerPoint Presentation

Moderated by: Brian D. Smedley, Vice President and Director, Health Policy Institute at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies - Bio | View as Word Doc

Background Materials:

• Upper Public Program Eligibility Levels for Children and Adults (2009) (Families USA)
• Fact Sheet: Covering the Uninsured in Medicaid (Families USA)
• Fact Sheet: Health Care Must Be Affordable for All Families, Regardless of Income (Families USA)
• Americans at Risk: One in Three Uninsured (Families USA)
• Health Care Reform: Critical to Closing the Gap for Communities of Color (Families USA)
• Medicaid As a Platform for Broader Health Reform: Supporting High-Need and Low-Income Populations (Kaiser Family Foundation)
• Expanding Health Coverage for Low-Income Adults: Filling the Gaps (Kaiser Family Foundation)

For more information, feel free to contact Rea Pañares or Sarina Fogel Gerson at 202.628.3030, rpanares@familiesusa.org or sfogel@familiesusa.org.