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August 2008
In this Issue:
NEW MEDIA:
- As the number of uninsured Americans continues to grow, states have proposed their own plans for expanding health care coverage. The Kaiser Family Foundation recently updated States Moving Toward Comprehensive Health Care Reform, an interactive resource that summarizes the status of states’ health care reform initiatives.
- Unnatural Causes, the widely acclaimed PBS documentary series that explores racial and socioeconomic inequalities in health, has developed new tools to help organizations educate, organize, and advocate for health equity: A YouTube channel that includes program excerpts and web-exclusive videos; half-hour scholar interviews via podcast; and online CE courses offered by San Francisco State University. For more information on the series, click here.
- A new podcast from The Commonwealth Fund highlights the success of remote simultaneous medical interpreting (RSMI), a new translation method being used at New York City’s Bellevue Hospital. Like the translation service used at the United Nations, RSMI allows the doctor and patient to speak into enhanced telephones while an off-site interpreter translates.
PUBLICATIONS:
- The Harvard School of Public Health recently published Advice to the Next President: 7 Ways to Fight Health Inequities in the Spring/Summer issue of the Harvard Public Health Review. This series of opinion pieces and video clips provide concrete strategies that answer the question: How might the United States narrow the gap between health “haves” and “have nots” to raise the average life expectancy to that of other industrialized countries? To view the commentary and video clips, click here.
- In early 2008, the Prevention Institute and Trust for America's Health convened government officials, community advocates, and researchers to discuss the federal government's role in addressing underlying determinants of health. This conversation resulted in Restructuring Government to Address Social Determinants of Health, a report that outlines the elements and structures within government needed to achieve a broader community approach to health.
- A new report published in the journal Obesity suggests that, if current trends continue, more than 86 percent of American adults could be overweight or obese by 2030. Led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Will All Americans Become Overweight or Obese? Estimating the Progression and Cost of the US Obesity Epidemic, states that obesity and overweight trends are likely to be most prevalent in 2030 among non-Hispanic black women and Mexican-American men, with obesity rates for the populations measuring 96.9 percent and 91.1 percent, respectively.
- Recognizing that poor oral health contributes to other health problems, the Center for Studying Health System Change recently released Community Efforts to Expand Dental Services for Low-Income People. The study examines states’ efforts to increase dentists’ participation in public health insurance programs like Medicaid and to extend dental services to vulnerable populations through community health centers, health departments, and dental schools.
- A new report, released by the Government Accountability Office, explains how increased coordination between the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) could improve the quality of health care provided to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Medicare and Medicaid: CMS and State Efforts to Interact with the Indian Health Service and Indian Tribes also examines problems experienced in public health insurance enrollment and makes recommendations for improving communication of policy change between CMS and IHS.
- According to a recent report, the AIDS epidemic among African Americans in some parts of the United States is as severe as in parts of Africa. Left Behind - Black America: A Neglected Priority in the Global AIDS Epidemic, published by the Black AIDS Institute, finds that although one in eight Americans is African American, one in every two people living with HIV in the United States is African-American. Updated in August 2008, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Fact Sheet: HIV/AIDS among African Americans, contains the latest statistics on how HIV/AIDS has affected the African American community.
- A new study, published this month by the Pew Hispanic Center and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation finds that Hispanic adults are less likely to have regular doctor’s visits, even when insurance and language are not barriers to obtaining health care. Hispanics and Health Care in the United States: Access, Information and Knowledge also found that over 25 percent of those surveyed had not received health care information from medical personnel in the past year, and that over 80 percent report receiving health information from alternative sources, such as the television or radio.
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Hispanic Health Initiatives
In Florida, almost half of the 3 million uninsured adults are Hispanic. Central Florida has continued to see the rates of the uninsured increase and the availability of culturally competent services decrease. One agency, Hispanic Health Initiatives, Inc (HHI), is the only health services facility in Central Florida created to specifically address the needs of the Hispanic community. Since its inception in June of 2000, this volunteer-driven, community-based organization has worked to connect medically underserved families with free or low-cost health care services.
As a leader in the community, HHI serves as the bridge between the minority community and the health care providers who serve them. Cancer and diabetes related forums, health fairs, and screening events are designed to provide hundreds of families each year with linguistically correct and culturally sensitive health information. HHI’s services emphasize preventive medicine, disease management and behavioral changes known to promote healthy lifestyles. HHI attributes its success to a board of directors, staff, and volunteers that mirror the community they serve and programming that is designed to educate and empower patients to make informed health decisions.
In 2007, ENFOQUE-Nuestra Salud (FOCUS -- Our Health) advocacy project was launched to complement HHI’s existing health awareness and education programs in cancer and diabetes. The campaign’s goal is to increase the voice of Hispanic consumers in the health care reform process and to create a sense of political consciousness within the community. In order to do this, HHI has begun providing health policy trainings to consumers and creating opportunities for community members, local leaders and the media to have dialogue on health care access issues in local town hall meetings.
If you have questions or would like more information about the Hispanic Health Initiative, contact Josephine Mercado, Founder and Executive Director, at (407) 339-2001 or by e-mail at hhi2001@aol.com. Visit Hispanic Health Initiatives website at http://www.hhi2001.org/1.html.
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Indian Health Care Improvement Act
The Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), now up for renewal, provides authority for the provision of health care to more than 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. The IHCIA has not been reauthorized since 1992: If reauthorized, IHCIA will allow the Indian Health Service (IHS) to modernize and improve its delivery of healthcare services, provide in-home care for the elderly and develop programming to address behavioral and mental health well-being. This year, two bills were introduced to enhance and expand the services provided by the IHS—S. 1200 and H.R. 1328. In February 2008, the Senate passed S. 1200, by an overwhelming bi-partisan vote of 83-10. Since then, H.R. 1328 has cleared all three committees of jurisdiction and is ready to move to the House floor. On August 1st, the House of Representatives adjourned for August recess, but will return September 8th to deliberate the fate of IHCIA.
In July 2008, Families USA launched a new health care activist website (www.standupforhealthcare.org). This interactive resource houses blog posts on various health-related issues and welcomes public comment. Most recently, the Minority Health Initiatives Department at Families USA felt the need to address statements made by economist Roland Fryer during CNN’s Black in America series. In order to provide an open forum for debate and educate others on this issue, we wanted to share our thoughts directly with the recipients of Minority Health Connection. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the blog at: http://www.standupforhealthcare.org/blog/archives/two_steps_forward_one_step_back/#more
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
The health equity movement has made some positive gains this year. The PBS-documentary series Unnatural Causes has been making its way around the country, shining a light on how racial and socioeconomic inequalities affect health. Minority health legislation is being debated from statehouses to the halls of Congress, and one of the presidential candidates has included disparities-related initiatives in his health care reform proposal.
But it seems that for every two steps forward, we are forced to take one step back. The latest setback came from a Harvard economist (not a physician or public health expert) promoting a heavily refuted theory on why African Americans are more likely to experience heart disease in America. During this segment on the widely-anticipated CNN series, Black in America, Roland Fryer discussed the salt-sensitive theory, which has been denounced by years of scientific and public health research. It states that during the transatlantic slave trade, Africans whose bodies held higher levels of salt survived the long, brutal voyage to the Americas, and therefore, their descendants are genetically disposed to hypertension and other diseases.
This perspective is harmful because it distracts us from having the real, and clearly difficult, conversations about social and health policies that promote health equity. If a gene is the underlying cause of African Americans dying sooner and more often of chronic diseases, then our answers must lie in biomedical research or new drug treatments. Right? Wrong.
Focusing on genetics as the root cause of disparities ignores the impact of social conditions on health. It distracts us from talking about the lack of nutritious, affordable foods in low-income communities; crowded, substandard housing; crumbling, inner-city schools; the lack of quality, affordable health care for all; and unequal treatment in the health care system. After all, it’s just genetics.
The theory simplifies a complex problem that actually requires myriad solutions. This is why the statement made by Dr. Fryer could be so damaging to the health equity movement—it neglects to address the fundamental and structural inequalities that affect the heath of communities of color. If genetics continues to be a focus of the health disparities conversation, and even seeps into the health care reform debate, then we’ll neglect to address the complexity the problem. And we’ll miss this opportunity to correct entrenched inequities and find the right solutions.
Rea Pañares,
Director, Minority Health Initiatives
Families USA
- 2008 United States Conference on AIDS
September 18-21, 2008
Fontainebleau Hotel, 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, Florida 33140
Sponsors: National Minority AIDS Council
For more information and to register: call 202-483-6622, e-mail conferences@nmac.org or click here.
- National Conference on Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations
September 21-24, 2008
Minneapolis Marriott City Center, 30 South 7th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
Sponsors: Drexel University Center for Health Equality, Resources for Cross Cultural Health Care, USDHHS Office of Minority Health
For more information and to register click here.
- First National Health Reform Congress
September 22-24, 2008
Renaissance Hotel, Washington, D.C., 999 Ninth St., N.W., Washington, D.C.
Sponsors: California HealthCare Foundation, Century Foundation, Harvard Health Policy Review and Health Affairs
For more information and to register: call Paul Tunnecliff at 775-537-2311, e-mail registration@hcconferences.com or click here.
- Second National Congress on the Un and Under Insured
September 22-24, 2008
Renaissance Hotel, Washington, D.C., 999 Ninth St., N.W., Washington, D.C.
Sponsors: California HealthCare Foundation, Century Foundation, Harvard Health Policy Review and Health Affairs
For more information and to register: call Paul Tunnecliff at 775-537-2311, e-mail registration@hcconferences.com or 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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