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Pallone, Colleagues Unveil Democratic Principles to Address Health Disparities

April 27, 2005

"I am very pleased to be a part of this news conference today during health disparities awareness month to emphasize Senate and House Democrats' commitment to addressing health disparities. We worked together in the 108th Congress to unveil landmark legislation to bridge the divide in health care between the general population and minority communities, including African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Asian Americans-Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans. We are committed in the 109th Congress to do the same, and today we are proud to present our consensus Democratic principles for addressing racial and ethnic health disparities.

"I want to highlight the plight of Native Americans, who in particular experience tremendous disparity in health care. Federal delivery of health services and maintaining and improving the health of Indians are required by the federal government's historical and unique legal Trust responsibility with Indian tribes. Despite such services, the unmet health needs of Indians remain alarmingly severe and the health status of Indians is far below the health status of the general population of the United States. For example, Indians suffer a death rate for diabetes that is 350 percent higher than the rest of the American population, a pneumonia and influenza death rate 52 percent greater, a tuberculosis death rate that is 650 percent greater, and a death rate from alcoholism that is 770 percent higher than all other races.

"Legislation is essential for bridging the gap in the health care divide between Native Americans and the general population. The main goals of the legislation will be similar in the 109th Congress, starting with guaranteeing Indian Health Service funding. With the Service operating as an entitlement program like Medicare or Social Security, accessibility and adequacy of services for Indian country and urban Indians is addressed. In addition, the Director of the Indian Health Service should be elevated to an Assistant Secretary for Health within the Department of Health and Human Services. The establishment of such a position would facilitate better development of Indian health policy and promote improved consultation and advocacy on matters related to Indian health.

"The Democratic health disparities bill will be vital to the health status of Native Americans, and is important for ensuring that all Americans are afforded their right to adequate, affordable and accessible health care."

Principles for Addressing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

Democrats are committed to eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health care because everyone deserves equal treatment in health care. The elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities can and should be a priority for our nation. The health of every community is enhanced when we work to promote health care equality for everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity. Legislation to address racial and ethnic health disparities should do the following:

Expand the Health Care Safety Net. Lack of health insurance and access to health services results in significant declines in health status within racial and ethnic minority communities. The availability, quality, and affordability of health coverage options that provide meaningful access to health care services must be expanded in order to successfully address racial and ethnic health disparities.

Diversify the Health Care Workforce. Our public health workforce should reflect, understand, and respect the backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of the people it serves. Efforts should be made to recruit, train and retain health care professionals from underrepresented groups. In addition, the training of health professionals should be expanded in order to produce a culturally and linguistically proficient health care workforce.

Combat Diseases That Disproportionately Affect Racial and Ethnic Minorities. Many diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, asthma, and HIV/AIDS, disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minorities. Federal research and prevention initiatives should seek to reduce the disproportionate burden of certain illnesses among racial and ethnic minorities.

Emphasize Prevention and Behavioral Health. Estimates suggest that as much as fifty percent of health care costs are caused by behaviorally related illnesses, including heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and substance abuse. Cultural and social factors can contribute to the behavioral patterns underlying these illnesses. Behavioral interventions have the potential to prevent such illnesses and save billions of dollars in health care costs.

Promote the Collection and Dissemination of Data and Enhance Medical Research. In order to fully understand the scope of health care disparities, it is necessary to have data on individuals health care access and utilization that includes race, ethnicity, primary language, and socio-economic status. This information is necessary in order to measure the existence of, causes, and effects of health care disparities and to lead to solutions.

Provide Interpreters and Translation Services in the Delivery of Health Care. Almost 11 million people in the United States speak English "not well" or "not at all." More than 21 million speak English less than "very well." We need to ensure that the quality of and access to health care received by people with limited English proficiency is not sacrificed because of language barriers. Interpreters and translated materials are key to providing effective health care and reducing health disparities among these populations.