May 2009

In this Issue:

New Resources

The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently updated its online database, Kids Count, which contains state-, city-, and now community-level data for more than 100 measures of child well-being. This database can generate custom reports for specific geographic areas and compare them based on a particular topic (for example, poverty, education, and health/health insurance). According to new data in the database, more than half of children living in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, and Dallas live with at least one foreign-born parent; and many of these children lack health insurance. To view and use this database, click here.

National Committee for Quality Assurance: Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award Program

National Committee for Quality Assurance: Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award Program
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is now accepting applications for its 2009 Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award program. This program highlights and recognizes health plans for their exemplary efforts and demonstrated effectiveness in promoting cultural competence and addressing the health care needs of diverse members.

Applications are now available online and must be submitted by June 1, 2009. To view past award-winning initiatives, you can download a copy of the Innovative Practices Reports from 2006, 2007, and 2008 at www.ncqa.org/clas.aspx.

Please email CLASAwards@ncqa.org with any questions.

PUBLICATIONS:

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies recently published its second series of disparities reports. The first, Trends in Child Health 1997-2006: Assessing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Low Birthweight looks at the prevalence of low birthweight among Hispanic, African American, and white children under age 18. The second, Trends in Child Health 1997-2006: Assessing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Asthma, examines disparities in the rates of asthma between African American, Hispanic, and white children under age 18.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Commission to Build a Healthier America has released its latest issue brief, Race and Socioeconomic Factors Affect Opportunities for Better Health. The brief examines how both race and modifiable social factors such as education, income, and the condition of the neighborhoods where people live, play a role in health care disparities.
Mathematica Policy Research recently published Improving Access to Language Services in Health Care: A Look at National and State Efforts. The brief examines state and national efforts to address language barriers, and it highlights the challenges and successes of language services work in California, Minnesota, and New York.
The Annals of Internal Medicine published the study (sponsored by The Commonwealth Fund), Differences in Control of Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes by Race, Ethnicity, and Education: U.S. Trends from 1999 to 2006 and Effects of Medicare Coverage. Researchers have found that providing Medicare coverage for those ages 65 and older reduces racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in the overall rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The National Business Group on Health has published Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities; A Business Case Update for Employers. The brief examines three areas: causes of health disparities in the workforce, why employers need to address disparities in health and health care, and steps employers can take to address health disparities.
Several new resources have been published that examine the status of health disparities in specific states. The Children’s Defense Fund published The Face of Health Disparities Among Children in Ohio, which looks at trends in health outcomes among children in Ohio. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recently published Working Together for a Healthier Kansas: A Status Report on the Social Determinants of Health in Kansas, which outlines health differences among Kansans, including access to medical care among racial and ethnic minorities in Kansas. Finally, the Missouri Foundation for Health released a series of data reports on minority health disparities in Missouri, 2009 African American Data Book and 2009 Hispanic Data Book. The reports present findings on health disparities between Missouri's African American, Hispanic, and white populations based on key health indicators.

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Activities in the Field

The Healthcare Equality Project, Washington, DC

The Healthcare Equality Project (HEP) is a national partnership between community-based and nationwide organizations, faith networks, labor groups, and advocates working together to achieve comprehensive health care reform and health care equality. Its goal is to ensure that health care reform efforts go beyond simply expanding coverage and become an engine for reducing disparities that plague women and racial, ethnic, and other minorities. Its mission is to ensure that the health care reform that is enacted works for everyone.

HEP has four specific goals that are designed to build a grassroots and advocacy campaign around health care reform: 1) to develop a public education and advocacy campaign to build awareness of health care disparities among racial and ethnic minorities across the nation; 2) to work with key congressional members to achieve necessary health care reform; 3) to develop and promote policies that address health care disparities; and 4) to strengthen the national network of health care equality advocates, including national organizations, faith-based groups, and student groups.

HEP will host “Lighting the Night: Healthcare Equity ’09” on Wednesday June 24th, at 7:00 p.m. at Freedom Plaza (13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown DC). A national coalition of health care activists, in partnership with members of Congress, civil rights and social justice organizations, and the faith community, will gather for a rally to demand that Congress take the necessary steps to pass a health reform bill this year. Sign up to attend the event at www.healthcareequalityproject.org.

For more information, please contact Healthcare Equality Project media organizer Van Nguyen at speakup@healthcareequalityproject.org or 202-730-7354.

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Policy Updates

President Obama’s 2010 Budget Report with OMH Budget

Earlier this month, President Obama unveiled his fiscal year (FY) 2010 budget for the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), which included the Office of Minority Health (OMH) budget request. The OMH budget request of $56 million is an increase of $3 million above the FY 2009 budget. These funds will provide the necessary aid to continue efforts in disease prevention, health promotion, service demonstration, and reducing and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care. The additional $3 million will also assist states in strengthening their existing health care systems for serving racial and ethnic minorities, and it is part of an HHS effort to more effectively address diversity. The FY 2010 budget also includes $52 million to support HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment strategies in minority communities, which are disproportionately affected by the disease.

Senate Finance Committee Hosts Three Roundtables to Discuss Key Elements of Health Care Reform: Delivery System, Coverage, and Financing

Between April and May, Senate Finance Committee (SFC) Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) hosted a series of three roundtable discussions on health care reform. The roundtable topics covered the health care delivery system, coverage, and financing. These roundtables were intended to encourage discussion between SFC members and health care policy and industry experts. They were also intended to inform the development of a comprehensive health care reform bill later this summer. Soon after each roundtable, the SFC released a policy paper detailing options for addressing each issue.

The first roundtable focused on reducing costs and improving quality in the health care delivery system. Senators and policymakers discussed strengthening the role of primary care, better managing patients with chronic diseases, and using comparative effectiveness research. Senators also discussed reducing fraud and abuse in federally financed health care programs such as Medicare. The policy options paper that was produced after the roundtable focused on making the health care delivery system more effective, efficient, and of higher quality.

The second roundtable focused on policies to expand health coverage to all Americans. Senators discussed creating tax credits for small business to help them purchase affordable insurance, as well as disease prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyles. The policy options paper focused on strengthening the health care safety net, expanding public health care programs, and creating sliding-scale premium subsidies for low-income Americans. A critical section in the coverage paper, “Options to Address Health Disparities,” focused on standardizing data collection based on race/ethnicity, improving language access, eliminating the five-year waiting period for non-pregnant legal immigrants, and educing rates of infant mortality and improving maternal well-being.

The third and final roundtable focused on policies to finance comprehensive health care reform. Key health care policy experts, tax experts, and economists joined SFC members to discuss revenue and cost-saving options. Senators discussed possible sources of savings within the health care system, the current tax treatment of health care benefits, and ways to expand the use of health information technology (HIT). The policy options paper focused on increasing efficiency in the way health care is delivered to patients and investing in prevention and wellness initiatives that can save money in the long run.

The three roundtables were open to the public, and webcasts and the three policy papers are available on the Finance Committee Web site at www.finance.senate.gov.

Upcoming Events

Voices: Amplifying the Call for Healthy Communities
June 1-2, 2009
Marriot Crystal Gateway, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202
Sponsor: The Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum
For more information and to register, click here.
15th Annual Summer Public Health Research Videoconference on Minority Health
June 9, 2009, 1:30-4:00 p.m. EST
Tate-Turner-Kuralt Auditorium in the University of North Carolina School of Social Work, 325 Pittsboro Street, CB# 3550, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Sponsor: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Program for Ethnicity, Culture, and Health Outcomes
For more information and to register, click here.
2009 National Congress of American Indians Mid-Year Conference
June 14-17, 2009
The Conference Center at Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Sponsor: National Congress of American Indians
For more information and to register, click here.
Health Care for All Annual Health Care Policy Conference
June 19, 2009
Hyatt Regency Boston, 1 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111
Sponsor: Health Care for All
For more information and to register, click here.
Disparities in Health in America: Working Towards Social Justice
June 20-26, 2009
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030
Sponsor: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
For more information and to register, click here.
NALEO 26th Annual Conference: The Latino Political Convention
June 25-27, 2009
1755 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028
Sponsor: The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)
For more information and to register, click here.
2009 National Medical Association Annual Convention & Scientific Assembly
July 25-29, 2009
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Sponsor: National Medical Association
For more information and to register, click here.
2009 Disparities Conference: Health Equity Through the Cancer Lens
July 28-29, 2009
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Sponsor: American Cancer Society
For more information and to register, click here.

We’d like to hear from you!

If you would like to see your organization or event highlighted in a future edition of our newsletter, please send us a brief description of your organization and its activities, as well as your contact information. We also welcome guest authors for the Activities in the Field section of the newsletter. This section provides members of the minority health field with the opportunity to share their experiences and insights with other advocates. Please send all correspondence to: minorityhealth@familiesusa.org.

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