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Political Awareness is important when it comes to your health. We provide important information on Local and National politics related to Minority Health issues.
Arkansas Minority Health Commission
Health Care Reform Update
December 10, 2009
The Health Care Reform debate continues in Arkansas, Washington and around the nation. As the Senate is positioning itself to vote on the matter in the days ahead, the Arkansas Minority Health Commission (AMHC) is continuing to educate and interact with our national decision makers about the need for health care reform that positively impact the health and access to healthcare of minority and underserved communities in Arkansas.
We continue to share a simple message; “Some Reform, Is Better Than No Reform At All” for the constituency served by the AMHC. The current system has left, on average, some 492,000 Arkansans without health insurance coverage. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2008)
In this update we focus on: guiding principles policymakers should consider while creating healthcare legislation, populations that will be impacted the most through new legislation and myths about reform.
AMHC Guiding Healthcare Principles
Principle 1: Healthcare legislation should increase access to healthcare coverage for communities of color.
Principle 2: Healthcare legislation should include provisions to focus on racial and ethnic health disparities.
Principle 3: Healthcare should invest in prevention and wellness.
Principle 4: Healthcare coverage should not be denied based on a pre-existing medical condition.
Principle 5: Healthcare legislation should include provisions to increase public health workforce diversity.
Principle 6: Healthcare legislation should reduce cost for poor people.
Principle 7: Health policy decisions should be assessed with respect to their effect on minorities in underserved populations.
The Facts In Arkansas*:
Many Arkansans lack health insurance:
- 26 Percent of Black Arkansans
- 33 Percent of Hispanic Arkansans
- 13 Percent of White Arkansans
Most people who are uninsured are working:
- 79 percent of employed Black Arkansans
- 96 percent of employed Hispanic Arkansans
- 86 percent of employed White Arkansans
Many adults 19-44 in Arkansas lack health insurance:
- 62 percent of Black Arkansans
- 80 percent of Hispanic Arkansans
- 61 percent of White Arkansans
*Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
Multi-State Integrated Database, Current Population Survey 2007
Myths About Healthcare Reform
Myth 1: I will go to jail for not having health insurance.
The House and Senate bills (as of December 10, 2009)do not indicate that those who choose to not buy health insurance will have to serve jail time. The House version indicates that financial penalties will be put in place if citizens choose not to have an insurance plan. However, provisions are in place to cover those who may not be able to afford the penalty and those who may opt out due to religious practices.
Myth 2: My taxes will increase.
While there will be a tax penalty for those choosing not to obtain health insurance, there will be no new taxes on the majority of Americans. According to the proposed House Bill, families with an annual income of $1 million or higher and single citizens making $500,000 or above will experience an increase in taxes. The Senate Bill dictates that individuals making an annual income of $200,000 or above and families making over $250,000 will experience a tax increase.
Myth 3: Healthcare will be rationed, and I will have to wait in long lines for service.
Both bills have measures that will increase the number of primary care physicians and service providers in the medical field. There are also measures proposed that would increase assistance to community health centers and community based programs. These provisions will help towards ensuring that healthcare is not rationed and that wait times at local health centers should not be drastically impacted under the new legislation.
Myth 4: The government is trying to take over my healthcare as opposed to what I already have by offering a public option.
The Public Option proffered makes provisions for coverage for Americans who are currently uninsured. The myth being promulgated is that the government is trying to take away citizen’s current health care. This is not true. The option is only for people that are currently uninsured. It also provides an opportunity for small business owners to offer coverage to their employees. The Public Option is not for citizens currently covered by their employers.
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The Arkansas Minority Health Commission would like to hear your input on these issues as it relates to minority health and health care reform. Contact Us at http://www.arminorityhealth.com/contact_us.html. We will continue to advocate public policy measures that decrease the overwhelming minority health disparities and increase health care access for communities of color; which will work towards the goal of increasing the overall health of ALL Arkansans.
For more information on this very important issue see:
United States House of Representatives:
H.R. 3962: Affordable Healthcare for America Act- PDF
http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf
Summary
http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/AHCAA-SUMMARY-102909.pdf
United States Senate:
H.R. 3590: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act- PDF
http://democrats.senate.gov/reform/patient-protection-affordable-care-act.pdf
Summary
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/housesenatebill_final.pdf
As the debate continues, get the current information through the following links:
http://www.rwjf.org/healthreform/
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/
Health Care Reform Statement
While the country and the state are in the midst of the Health Care Reform debate, The Arkansas Minority Health Commission, as a part of its responsibility to represent minority health interests in public policy, has been monitoring the development of the National Health Care Debate and meeting with members of the Arkansas Congressional Delegation to share our vision of improved health and health care in the State of Arkansas. AMHC’s Executive Director, Idonia Trotter, Medical Director, Dr. Creshelle Nash and Commissioners Vivian Flowers, Christine Patterson, Willa Sanders (all of Little Rock) and Raul Blasini of Pocahontas met with Senator Mark Pryor on Wednesday, August 12th in Senator Pryor’s Little Rock, Arkansas office. They, along with Dr. O.T. Gordon of Pine Bluff, met with Senator Blanche Lincoln on Friday, August 14th in her Little Rock office.
In particular, the AMHC expressed the continued minority health disparities that exists, not only in Arkansas, but nationwide. Within Arkansas, African Americans die at a 30% higher rate than white Arkansans. This fact is seen across most diseases. We currently have limited data on the growing Hispanic population in the state. However, we do have indication that Diabetes, HIV and unintentional injuries are disproportionately impacting the Hispanic community.
|
White Mortality* |
Black Mortality* |
% difference |
Heart Disease |
234.4 |
310.2 |
+32% |
Cancer |
201.6 |
255.8 |
+27% |
Stroke |
54.7 |
91.7 |
+68% |
Diabetes |
23.6 |
52.9 |
124% |
HIV |
2.0 |
10.8 |
+440% |
Infant Mortality |
7.9 |
14.9 |
+89% |
Executive Director Idonia Trotter reminded the Senators that there are many Arkansans suffering under the current health care system and that some reform is better than no reform at all.
The Arkansas Minority Health Commission is in full support of a public option of health care coverage for all Americans. However, health care reform efforts must address more than insurance coverage. In Arkansas, we now know that we have documented poorer health status and alarming racial and ethnic health disparities across many conditions with many contributing factors. “This work has shown us that to improve the health of our state and nation, there must be a focus on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities,” said Dr. Creshelle Nash, MD, MPH. “Health care reform must also include equity in reimbursements to physicians who choose to practice in rural and underserved communities; improving health care quality for minorities; cultural competency; an increase in the diversity of the health care workforce numbers; and a primary focus on prevention and investment in minority communities to create healthier living, working and social environments,” Nash stated. The AMHC’s goal is to serve as a resource to local, county, state and national elected officials in understanding the various health concerns of minority citizens in Arkansas and to advocate on their behalf towards equality in health care and the health care system as a whole.
The AMHC is currently working to schedule visits with Congressmen Vic Snyder, Mike Ross, John Boozman and Marion Berry in the near future. We welcome your comments and active participation in this important issue that will, no doubt, affect the lives of all minority citizens in Arkansas.
Selected Current Legislation
Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2009 and summary - PDF
Affordable Health Choices Act and summary - PDF
As the debate continues, get the current information through the following links:
National
http://www.rwjf.org/healthreform/
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/
We would like to hear your input on these issues as it relates to minority health and health care reform. Contact Us