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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/
We would like to hear your input on these issues as it relates to minority health and health care reform. Contact Us