Health Equity: In Depth
Introduction
Since launching our Health Equity Initiatives program area in 2004, Families USA has developed reports, fact sheets, and Health Equity Focus briefs that health policy, public health and minority health advocates can use in their efforts to reduce health disparities. In addition, Families USA has launched a monthly e-newsletter, developed an action kit, and created a rapidly growing e-mail list to keep advocates connected to important health policy issues that disproportionately affect minority communities. We also continue to develop relationships with leaders in communities of color, such as faith leaders, elected officals, health advocates, and civil rights leaders.
Recent Health Equity and Health Equity Policy Publications from Families USA
Confronting Disparities while Reforming Health Care: A Look at Massachusetts examines how state advocates were able to build on expansion efforts and address the host of issues that affect disparities in health and health care. Includes an extensive discussion of lessons that can be learned from the Massachusetts experience. (June 2007)
SCHIP and Children's Health Coverage: Leveling the Playing Field for Minority Children examines the important role that SCHIP plays in reducing disparities in access to care, as well as how the SCHIP reauthorization process can be used to further this effort. (December 2006, updated June 2007)
New Medicaid Regulations Discriminate against U.S.-Born Children of Immigrants focuses on a specific provision of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA), which has established regulations for citizenship documentation requirements for Medicaid. This provision creates an arbitrary and harmful distinction between children who are born in the U.S. to immigrants versus those born to citizens. (August 2006)
The Burden of Proof: New Regulations Worsen Citizenship Documentation Requirement in Medicaid examines the likely consequences of the new Medicaid citizenship documentation regulations and advises advocates on how to mitigate the harm these requirements may cause. (July 2006)
Analysis of the Medicaid Citizenship Documentation Regulations discusses the interim final regulations that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued in July. The regulations alleviated the burden of documenting citizenship for several important groups of Medicaid beneficiaries and applicants. However, there are still many areas of concern in the new regulations, and millions of eligible Americans will have their coverage delayed or denied because of these onerous requirements. (July 2006)
Reflections on, and Implications of, the NEJM Study: Families USA recently organized a conference call to discuss a March 2006 study in The New England Journal of Medicine that suggested that the quality of health care in the U.S. is mediocre—but relatively equal—for all, with African Americans and Latinos receiving slightly better care. A replay of the call is now available online. Real Audio | Windows Media
Working with the Faith Community: Reflections from a National Faith Leader This tool for advocates identifies several tips and practical strategies for engaging and working with the faith community around health care issues. Drawing from her work with congregations that represent communities of color, Barbara Baylor, Minister for Health and Wellness at the national office for the United Church of Christ, reflects on how to engage the faith community as an effective way to improve health care. (March 2006)
Making Public Programs Work for Communities of Color: An Action Kit for Community Leaders is an Action Kit designed to provide community leaders with the information, tools, and resources necessary to engage in health advocacy and improve the health and well-being of their communities. (January 2006)
"Reforming" Medicaid: How State Waivers Will Hurt Racial and Ethnic Minorities examines the potentially negative impact that recently proposed changes to the South Carolina and Florida Medicaid programs will have on minority health. This issue brief also explores the role of Medicaid in improving access to health care for racial and ethnic minorities and analyzes the threat that state Medicaid waivers pose to the health of minority populations. (November 2005)
Medicaid and Minority Health: Why Cutting Medicaid Will Exacerbate Health Disparities analyzes the relationship between Medicaid and minority health, explores the causes of racial and ethnic health disparities, and examines how recent proposals to cut Medicaid will worsen these disparities. (February 11, 2005)
How Will Association Health Plans Affect Minority Health? Separating Fact from Fiction analyzes the real impact that Association Health Plans (AHPs) will have on the health care access of uninsured racial and ethnic minorities. (February 2005)
Cut Medicaid--Increase Health Disparities: How Cuts to "Optional" Beneficiaries Will Affect Minority Health explores the lack of true distinction between mandatory and so-called "optional" enrollees. It also analyzes how proposed Medicaid cuts that target "optional" enrollees will exacerbate health disparities because they will have a disproportionate impact on the health care and health outcomes of racial and ethnic minorities, particularly African-American seniors in nursing homes. (February 9, 2005)
Presidential Candidates' Health Initiatives: How Will They Affect the Hispanic Community?
Families USA, with input from the National Association for Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund (NALEO), developed this document for Latino elected officials to raise awareness about specific health policies and suggest the likely impact of these policies on the Hispanic community. The publication is available in English and Spanish. (October 2004)
Presidential Candidates' Health Initiatives: Implications for African Americans
Families USA, in partnership with the Health Policy Institute at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, developed Presidential Candidates' Health Initiatives: Implications for African Americans. Released on September 10, 2004 at a forum held during the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Week, the publication raises awareness about specific health policies and suggests the likely impact of these policies on the African American community. In addition, by comparing the health policy proposals of the 2004 Presidential candidates, it provides insights into the operation of existing health policies and programs from the perspective of African Americans.(September 10, 2004)
The TennCare Waiver and African Americans: The Truth Behind the Rhetoric examines the impact of the TennCare waiver on African Americans. TennCare is a crucial source of health care for all Tennesseans, and it provides coverage for two in every five African Americans in the state. The new waiver, released on August 19th, represents a radical departure from the existing program that will gravely threaten access to quality, affordable health care for African Americans in Tennessee. This two-page fact sheet explores these issues. (August 25, 2004)
For links to publications and other resources on minority health, minority health policy, and related health topics from other key organizations, click here.
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