January 2008

In this Issue:

• New Resources 
  • PUBLICATIONS
    
    
• Activities in the Field
  
  
• Policy Updates
  
  
• Upcoming Events

New Resources

PUBLICATIONS:

• A broad coalition of over 25 national health advocacy and civil rights organizations released a report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Unequal Health Outcomes in the United States, describing racial inequality in health care, health outcomes, and environmental health in the U.S. Through extensive research, this comprehensive report demonstrates that inequity in the health care infrastructure and in social and environmental conditions is the cause behind health disparities.
  
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently released Health Characteristics of the Asian Adult Population: United States, 2004-2006. This report  compares national estimates for HIV testing status, health behaviors, health care use, and other health indicators among Asian-American population subgroups. The report finds that in general, Asian-American adults are least likely to be current smokers, be obese, have hypertension, or delay medical care because of cost, compared to other racial/ethnic groups. However, Vietnamese adults are most likely to be in fair or poor health and Korean adults are most likely to be smokers and to be uninsured.
  
• The Commonwealth Fund supported three new studies that examine language barriers in health care. Two studies discussed the different interpretation methods used to communicate with limited English proficient patients and how they affected medical errors and health care quality. Another study focused on patients who spoke a language different to their provider and how the patients rated their interaction with the provider. To read about the studies and access the abstracts, click here.
  
• The Center for American Progress has a new article online, The Conservative Agenda: Serving African Americans? that discusses the worsening economic situation of African Americans under a conservative policy agenda. The article also describes how the rate of uninsured African Americans has risen during the Bush presidency.
  
• The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Socioeconomic Status and Health recently released Reaching for a Healthier Life: Facts on Socioeconomic Status and Health in the U.S. This report reveals the relationship between poor socioeconomic status and poor health in the U.S. The authors also discuss race as an additional factor linked to health status and offer policy suggestions to reduce premature death and eliminate health disparities.
  
• The California Pan-Ethnic Health Network issued an analysis of the health reform proposals put forth by the 2008 Presidential candidates and compared their proposals to the Having Our Say principles of providing universal, affordable, and equitable coverage. Having Our Say is a coalition of 30 statewide organizations in California that works to ensure that communities of color have a voice in health reform discussions.
  
• A recent study demonstrates that black patients over age 65 were significantly less likely to receive proper therapy for several types of cancer. The researchers found that over the 10 year interval of the study, racial disparities in cancer treatment have not improved. To read the journal article abstract, click here.
  
• Using survey data collected over a decade, researchers discovered that emergency room doctors were more likely to prescribe pain medication to white patients compared to black, Hispanic, or Asian patients. To read the journal article abstract, clickhere.
  
• The Commonwealth Fund issued a report, Health Literacy Practices in Primary Care Settings: Examples from the Field, that describes five health literacy practices primary care providers can utilize to communicate with patients of limited education or English proficiency. One recommendation discusses the need for providers to have forms and educational material available that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for each ethnic population they may serve.

[Return to top] 

Activities in the Field

The New England Regional Minority Health Committee

Created in 1999, the New England Regional Minority Health Committee identifies and promotes initiatives to address health disparities in the New England area. The committee is best known for its biennial regional conference. This conference brings together almost 600 participants to receive updates on the status of health disparities at the state and regional level, learn about program best practices, and network with peers.

The New England area consists of six states: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont. Using the Healthy People 2010 goals as a guide, the committee partners with the Office of Minority Health’s regional office, all six state departments of health, health care providers, community-based organizations, academic institutions, advocates, and business leaders in the common mission to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.

The committee meets every 1-2 months, rotating throughout the New England region. At these meetings, committee members discuss the challenges and successes their organizations and communities have experienced. Michelle Surdoval, manager for the regional conference, remarks, “Though these states are geographically grouped together, they are very diverse and dealing with very different issues.” Surdoval said that neither New Hampshire nor Maine had state Offices of Minority Health in their state health departments. Joined by state and federal partners, the committee lobbied for the creation of these offices. In the end, Offices of Minority Health were officially established in New Hampshire in 2003 and in Maine in 2005.

Currently, the committee is preparing for its 2009 regional conference to be held in Rhode Island from March 30-April 1. The conference theme is “From Disparities to Equity: The Power to Make Change.” Along with its conference work, the committee has also instituted a leadership development program that identifies dynamic young adults engaged in health disparities work and provides them with professional support through mentoring. The trust and friendship that exists among committee members allows for discussions to take place covering such sensitive topics as racism and cultural inequities. “No other region is doing this type of multi-state organizing. We would like to serve as a model for the nation in demonstrating what several diverse states can accomplish when they come together to eliminate health disparities in their communities,” said Surdoval.

If you have any questions or would like more information about The New England Regional Minority Health Committee, visit their Web site at http://www.nermhc.com/ or contact Michelle Surdoval at michellesurdoval@yahoo.com.

[Return to top]

Policy Updates

Children’s Health Coverage

After two presidential vetoes and days before the program was scheduled to run out, Congress extended the state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) until March 2009. This time, the President signed the bill. The legislation includes just enough money to sustain the program at its current level and keep the approximately 6 million children in CHIP from losing their health coverage. Unfortunately, there is no funding to cover uninsured children who are eligible for the program but not enrolled. This is especially problematic for racial and ethnic minority children: 80 percent of African-American children and 70 percent of Latino children are eligible for public programs but not enrolled.

The CHIP extension was contained in a large health care bill called the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007. Taken as a whole, this bill is both a disappointment and a promise for more health care action next year. For example, the bill does not address the Administration's harmful directive to limit CHIP eligibility to families who make less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level. Overturning this wrong-headed policy will be a top priority in 2008.

Indian Health Care Improvement Act Reauthorization

Infant mortality is 150 percent higher for Native Americans than whites. Over twice as many Native Americans have diabetes or commit suicide compared to whites. The Indian Health Care Improvement Act, S. 1200, will help to alleviate some of these disparities by reauthorizing funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS). This legislation will also modernize and improve health care services and delivery, expand behavioral health programs, and increase the number of Native American health care professionals.

Reminiscent of the CHIP reauthorization process, Bush threatens to veto the Indian Health Care Improvement Act as it is currently written. The Administration criticized provisions in the bill that would allow employers to pay workers at higher local wage rates for new projects funded by the bill. It also claimed that the bill contains inadequate documentation requirements for Medicaid enrollment. However, the Administration has now received clarification on both of these issues refuting their concerns. Currently, Senate members are negotiating over specific provisions of the bill with a possible floor vote in the coming two weeks. For more information on how you can get involved, click here.

[Return to top] 

Upcoming Events

• Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations call for proposals
  Deadline: January 31, 2008
  Sponsor: Drexel University School of Public Health’s Center for Health Equality
  For more information and to submit proposals online: http://www.diversityrxconference.org/Call-For-Proposals/64/
  
• True Spin Conference
  January 31-February 1, 2008, Curtis Hotel, 1405 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202
  Sponsor: Cause Communications
  For more information and to register: http://www.truespinconference.com/index.html
  
• Annual Conference of the Health of the African Diaspora: Mental Health
  February 9, 2008, 9:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m., New York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016
  Sponsor: New York University School of Medicine
  To register: http://www.med.nyu.edu/ichr/chad/events/events.html
  
• Policy Agenda Release
  February 13, 2008, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., State Capitol Rotunda, 10th & Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95814
  Sponsor: Latino Issues Forum
  For more information and to RSVP: Erika Rincón Whitcomb at lifpolicy@lif.org or 415-284-7220
  
• The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America launch
  February 28, 2008, 9:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m., the Columbus Club, Union Station, Washington, DC 20002
  Sponsor: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  For more information and to RSVP: Alex Field at (301) 652-1558 or Nick Seaver
  
• The Impact of Poverty, Culture, and Environment on Minority Health, Annual Minority Health Conference
  February 29, 2008, The William and Ida Friday Continuing Education Center, 100 Friday Center Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27517
  Sponsor: University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill School of Public Health
  For more information and to register: http://www.minority.unc.edu/sph/minconf/2008/
  
• County Practices Nomination: Access to Care
  Sponsor: National Association of Counties
  Deadline: February 29, 2008
  For nominations: http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=New_Technical_Assistance&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=26147
  

The Minority Health Initiatives department would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for attending another successful minority health track at Health Action 2008! We hope that you will use your new found information and energy, return to your communities, and continue the fight for health equality.
 

 [Return to top]