Health reform proponents say a new report highlights the need for racial justice as they attempt to correct disparities in our nation’s health care system.
Health Care for America Now (HCAN) recently released reports in each state about how communities of color are suffering disproportionately.
“We must provide quality, affordable health care to everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, sex or income,” said Darryl Moore, from St. Louis ACORN.
Missouri ACORN is part of HCAN, which released “Unequal Lives: Health Care Discrimination Harms Communities of Color in Missouri.” The report explains how African Americans and people of color are adversely affected in our health care system and why lawmakers should take advantage of the opportunity to correct inequalities in new health reform legislation.
“As we build on what works in our current health care system and fix what doesn’t, we need to address a long history of discrimination in medical treatment and reorient the way doctors, hospitals, drug makers, medical device makers, insurance companies and government programs provide care,” Moore said.
Data highlighted some of the health disparities that exist for African Americans in Missouri.
• The infant mortality rate for black is twice that of whites in Missouri – 13.8 to 6.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the report, based on 2003-2005 data from the National Center of Health Statistics.
• The report indicates life expectancy for African Americans in Missouri is six to 10 years shorter than for whites.
• The number of uninsured African Americans in Missouri is nearly twice that of whites – 22 percent compared to 13 percent.
• According to health data from the Department of Health and Human Services, health insurance premiums in Missouri increased 76 percent during the five years between 2000 and 2007.
The 26-page “Unequal Lives” report does offer recommendations to erase racial and ethnic health care disparities. It calls for an affordable benefit package that provides a defined, comprehensive set of age- and gender-appropriate services that promote health in a linguistically and culturally competent manner. In addition:
• Coverage should be backed by adequate reimbursement rates and effective performance incentives that promote provider participation, efficiency, and promote improved health for people of color.
• Reform must address the social determinants of health, including a clean environment, occupational safety, safe neighborhoods and access to nutritious food.
• The nation must address chronic shortages of health professionals in communities of color and marginalized populations.
• Congress should implement mechanisms to support safety-net institutions and drive quality-improvement initiatives in all health care settings.
• Stakeholders and the public should be given good data by insurers and health care providers on race, ethnicity and ethnic sub-population, socioeconomic position, primary language, age, gender and gender identity.
“All of the stalling by Republicans and conservative Democrats only serves one purpose: killing the legislation and disabling President Obama’s ability to bring change to the country,” said Glenn Burleigh, head organizer of St. Louis ACORN.
“The USA has been discussing this for decades, so all of the current rhetoric about this going too fast is pretty ridiculous and is really meant to buy right-wing corporate groups time to spread uncertainty and fear around the country.”
For a complete look at the report “Unequal Lives” for Missouri, go to healthcareforamericanow.org.