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June 2008
In this Issue:
NEW MEDIA:
- URU The Right To Be, Inc produced a documentary titled The Deadliest Disease in America, which chronicles the stories of four individuals who experienced racism while seeking medical care. The film serves as a vehicle to foster discussion about the U.S. health care system and what strides are being made to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. For more information, to view the trailer, and to see a list of conference tour locations, click here.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Drexel University School of Public Health’s Center for Health Equality have jointly launched the nation’s first online resource center focused on the public health preparedness needs of culturally diverse communities. The National Resource Center will serve as a central clearinghouse of resources and an exchange site to facilitate communication, collaboration, and networking among key players working to empower and eliminate disparities for culturally diverse communities in emergencies.
PUBLICATIONS:
- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation published a study, Disparities in Health and Health Care among Medicare Beneficiaries, conducted by the Dartmouth Atlas Project, which highlights inequity in health care quality in the U.S. The study also points out that these disparities are particularly striking when comparing different regions of the country. For example, researchers showed amputation rates for blacks in Mississippi and South Carolina are three times greater compared to blacks in Colorado and Nevada. To read a brief report of the study, click here.
- The National Conference of Black Mayors and the Service Employees International Union released a report, Lifeline to Health Equity: Policies for Real Health Reform, discussing the negative impact of health disparities on communities of color in regards to lack of coverage, poor quality care, and a shortened life span. The report also makes recommendations on specific local, state, and federal policy initiatives to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities.
- A recent study shows the growing rate of childhood obesity has started to level off. However, this is not true for children of color. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed data on more than 8,000 children. CDC found that among girls aged 12 to 19, about 28 percent of blacks and 20 percent of Mexican-Americans were obese, compared to 14 percent of whites. For boys aged six to 11, about 28 percent of Mexican-Americans and 19 percent of blacks were considered extremely obese, compared to 16 percent of whites. To read an abstract of the study, click here.
- A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine demonstrates that physicians’ lack of attention to cultural differences between populations can adversely affect the quality of care they provide. Researchers analyzed the patient records of 90 primary care physicians in Eastern Massachusetts who were treated for diabetes between 2005 and 2007. Researchers believe that health disparities occur because physicians are doing the same type of treatment for each individual patient and not considering their diverse needs. To read an abstract of the study, click here.
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African American Health Coalition (AfAHC)
During a time when our country faces tough economic decisions, many programs are being cut that provide information and health services to diverse communities. One such program, the African American Health Coalition (AfAHC), remains committed to providing services to the African and Hispanic-American population in Houston, Texas. The coalition, created in 1992, builds its mission around ensuring the good health of families, educating the community, and developing a productive environment.
AfAHC is a nonprofit organization that consists of a purely volunteer base of individuals and organizations. It holds a monthly membership meeting to foster networking between health professionals and community activists, and provide informative presentations on community based research. The coalition targets African and Hispanic communities, but does not exclude any racial or ethnic group. Because of a lack of funding, AfAHC has no major projects of its own but works on the bulk of its activities through partnerships with organizations that share its mission and vision. AfAHC works with African American churches to educate their members about nutrition and healthy life choices. It also conducts a yearly teen summit that instructs youth on family planning, disease prevention, and healthy life choices.
AfAHC hosted the BET Women’s Health Symposium in May 2008. This event, sponsored by the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Foundation, drew 485 women to learn about nutrition, health awareness, and fitness. This marked the first year that the BET Women’s Health Symposium was held in Houston. The coalition is now preparing for the Congressional Tri-Caucus Minority Health Summit being held July 18-19 in Houston (see Upcoming Events section below). The health summit will engage Congressional members and the local community in conversation about strategies that can be implemented to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. It will also allow community health activists to showcase their projects and work in a community fair setting.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the African American Health Coalition, contact Kelly Hodges, Board Chair, at information@afahc.org.
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House Committee Holds Hearing on Health Disparities
The House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee held a hearing this past month on disparities in health and access to care as part of its ongoing series on health care reform. The hearing brought attention to the persistence of disparities in access to care, quality of care, health outcomes, and the prevalence of certain diseases for specific subgroups. Health care advocates and supporters commented on how there had not been a Congressional hearing on health disparities for almost 10 years, underscoring that a hearing on this issue was long overdue.
Speakers included prominent members of the Congressional Tri-Caucus, Del. Donna Christensen, Rep. Hilda Solis, and Rep. Madeleine Bordallo. They discussed the impact of health disparities in their particular communities and what legislative efforts are being proposed to eliminate health inequality. Testimonies were also offered by Dr. Mohammed Akhter, Executive Director of the National Medical Association (NMA), Marsha Lillie-Blanton, Senior Advisor on Race, Ethnicity and Healthcare at the Kaiser Family Foundation, and other nationally renowned policy researchers and advocates.
Senate Finance Chair Introduces Medicare Bill
Senator Max Baucus, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced a bill that will temporarily delay proposed Medicare reimbursement cuts to physicians, promote electronic prescribing, expand rural health programs, and place restrictions on Medicare Advantage marketing. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (S.3101) also includes provisions that address racial and ethnic health disparities.
Specifically, the bill:
- Directs the Secretary to study effective approaches for ongoing data collection, measurement, and evaluation of disparities in health care services and performance by race, ethnicity, and gender, and report the findings to Congress.
- Requires the Secretary to implement best approaches to measure health care disparities and report to Congress.
- Directs the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to report, within two years, on the extent to which Medicare providers follow the rules regarding discrimination against beneficiaries with limited English proficiency and the culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) standards, and requires the Secretary to correct all deficiencies.
Passage of the bill failed by the six votes needed to overcome a Republican led filibuster, forcing both sides of the Senate back to negotiations.
- Reflect, Rejoice, Renew: Celebrating 25 Years of Promoting Health and Well-Being for Black Women
June 19 – 21, 2008
Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008
Host: The Black Women’s Health Imperative
For more information and to register, click here.
- Disparities in Health in America: Working Towards Social Justice
June 21-27, 2008
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Hickey Auditorium, 11th Floor, R. Lee Clark Clinic, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030
Sponsor: The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
For more information and to register, click here.
- The Deadliest Disease in America
June 23, 2008, 12:00 p.m.
Barbara Jordan Conference Center, Kaiser Family Foundation, 1330 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005
Sponsors: Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group, The Praxis Project, URU The Right To Be, Inc.
For more information and to RSVP: email healthincluded@aol.com or call (202) 234-5921
- Health Care and Civil Rights webinar
June 26, 2008, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. EDT
To register: email paula.purvis@arkansas.gov with name, telephone number, and email address
Building Capacity to Eliminate Health Disparities
June 26-27, 2008
Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center, 650 15th Street, Denver CO 80202
Sponsor: Academy of Health Equity
For more information and to register, click here.
- The National Council of La Raza Annual Conference
July 12-15, 2008
San Diego Convention Center, 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Sponsor: National Council of La Raza
For more information and to register, click here.
- Congressional Tri-Caucus Minority Health Summit
July 18–19, 2008
Houston Community College, 3100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002
Sponsors: The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
For more information: Marguerite Ro, (415) 568-3312 or email mro@apiahf.org
- National Conference on Latinos and AIDS
July 28-29, 2008
Miami Beach Resort & Spa, 4833 Collins Avenue, Miami, FA 33140
Sponsors: Minorities Healthcare Communications, Inc. and Nurse Practitioner Alternatives, Inc.
For more information and to register, click here.
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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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