U.S. Congressional Minority Caucuses Unite to Bring Attention to Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Health.

News, Health & Political Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 2003

Members of the U.S. Congressional Black, Latino and Asian Pacific American Caucuses today convened in Los Angeles to join health and community leaders in a lively discussion on actions to take to reduce and eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities that are pervasive in underserved communities of color.

"Bridging the Health Divide: A Congressional Forum on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities" was an unprecedented gathering of the three Caucuses, hosted by The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation. The Endowment is dually focused on grant making and policy advocacy around the issue of racial and ethnic health disparities. The forum served as an important opportunity to develop strategies and recommendations to effect health policy changes in California and the nation. Throughout the country, racial and ethnic populations are in poorer health compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Because of its diversity, California faces some of the most serious health challenges due to persistent and acute health disparities.

"Eliminating health disparities is one of the top priorities of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)," said Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, chair of the CBC. "We are delighted to have such a strong partnership with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and look forward to continuing the dialogue on such an important issue. We must ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health care so they can lead healthy and productive lives."

Issues discussed during the forum's opening session, "The Future of Minority Health Care," included health profession work force diversity, racial and ethnic data collection, public health/hospital infrastructure, covering the uninsured and preserving the safety net. Also discussed in breakout sessions: community-based interventions for HIV/AIDS, access to prescription drugs and health care services, and new directions for diabetes and asthma disease management.

A distinguished list of health experts presented information on these issues, including Carmen Nevarez, medical director and vice-president of External Relations for The Public Health Institute; E. Richard Brown, Ph.D., director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research; Castulo de la Rocha, J.D., president and CEO of AltaMed Health Services Corporation; Sherry M. Hirota, executive director of Asian Health Services; Phill Wilson, executive director of the Black AIDS Institute; Athena Philis-Tsimikas, M.D., chief medical director of the Whittier Institute for Diabetes; Cleo Manago, founder and CEO of AMASSI Centers of Los Angeles; Jim Mangia, CEO of St. John's Well Child Center; and Cynthia Davis, M.P.H., director of HIV Education and Outreach Programs for Charles R. Drew University.

"It was important for Caucus members to hear first-hand from community health leaders about the health issues that disproportionately affect communities of color. The high prevalence rates of diabetes, asthma and HIV/AIDS and the lack of access to health care among these underserved communities are costing our nation billions of dollars each year," said Robert K. Ross, M.D., president and CEO of The Endowment. "The Endowment has created strong public and private partnerships throughout the state which we hope will help to inform and shape policy at both the state and federal levels to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities."

According to a recent report by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, the prevalence of diabetes is much higher in the African-American and Latino communities compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Nearly one in four African-American adults in California suffers from or is at risk for diabetes, and Latinos over the age of 50 suffer from diabetes at more than twice the rate of their White peers. Additionally, 28 percent of Latinos in California ages 0-64 lack health coverage compared to nine percent of whites.

Furthermore, the recent Institute of Medicine report, "Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare," found that "racial and ethnic minority patients receive a lower quality and intensity of health care and diagnostic services across a wide range of procedures and disease areas."

"The growing health disparity between the services that the Latino community receives and the general population receives is unacceptable and must be closed. It's time for the Latino community to hold accountable those who make the decisions about the future of their health care," said Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. "We must start asking why is it that our children and elderly are suffering from disease at skyrocketing rates -- our community still has the highest rates of uninsured. By coming together and building coalitions to address our communal health care crisis, we are opening the doors of possibility and discourse that could lead to a healthier America."

Asian communities also experience health disparities, oftentimes due to cultural and linguistic barriers. For example, 24 percent of all Asian Pacific Islander households are what is called "linguistically isolated," which means that no household member over the age of 13 speaks English very well. These households are far less likely to seek medical care, understand the recommended treatments, follow-up and adhere to prescribed medications, and seek follow-up appointments than their fluent English-speaking counterparts. Additionally, 21 percent of Asian Pacific Americans in the U.S. lack health coverage compared to 14 percent of Whites. Complex issues involving cultural traditions also play a role that contributes to the health disparities Asian communities experience.

"Policymakers need to recognize that there are many communities that are being left behind when it comes to access to health care," said Representative Mike Honda, vice-chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. "Specifically, as the population of Asian Americans grows nationwide, the need to find solutions to solving health care disparities is becoming more and more urgent."

A unique collaboration of foundations joined together for the first time with The California Endowment to support the gathering of the minority caucuses. They are: the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Bruce Willis Foundation, C.A.R.E. Foundation (George & Anna Lopez), The Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan, Magic Johnson Foundation, Rush Philanthropic (Russell Simmons), Will & Jada Smith Foundation, Tavis Smiley Foundation and Rock the Vote.

The California Endowment was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. The Endowment makes grants to organizations and institutions that directly benefit the health and well-being of the people of California. For more information, visit them on the Web at www.calendow.org.