SEN. JOHN KERRY JOINS JOINT CENTER HPI IN LAUNCHING INITIATIVE TO REDUCE THE ROOT CAUSES OF HEALTH DISPARITIES FOR MINORITIES; KATRINA VICTIMS UNDERSCORE NEED FOR STRONGER SOCIAL SAFETY NET

Sen. Kerry Calls on America to Provide Healthcare Everyday, Not Just After Disasters HPI Medicaid Study Cites Huge Jump in Uninsured if Benefits or Spending Capped

(AANEWSWIRE)WASHINGTON-The Joint Center Health Policy Institute (HPI) today launched an initiative to curtail health disparities in America by addressing the social and economic conditions that increase diseases among minorities, and were so evident among many low-income Gulf Coast residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Declaring that there is a "health crisis'' for people of color in America, former Ohio Congressman Louis Stokes, who chairs the HPI Advisory Committee, said at a press conference that "our goal is to identify the underlying causes of health disparities, and work with the public and private sectors to develop programs to improve those conditions. It's clear that poverty, substandard housing, lack of health insurance and other environmental conditions contribute greatly to health disparities.''

Citing the poverty and health issues exposed by Katrina, Sen. John Kerry (D-Ma.) said: "The real test of Katrina is whether we'll do only the immediate -- care for the victims and rebuild the city -- or if America as a country will be inspired to tackle the injustice that left so many of the least fortunate waiting and praying on those rooftops. Eleven million children and over 30 million adults in American don't have health care. The truth is that, as a result of Katrina, many children went to shelters where they got vaccinations for the first time. Thousands of adults are seeing a doctor for the first time in years. Illnesses lingering long before Katrina will be treated by a health care system that just weeks ago was indifferent. We have to act now to be sure it won't soon be indifferent again. We must demand something simple and humane: health care for every American -- not just when a disaster strikes, but every day of the year."

Also joining Sen. Kerry and Rep. Stokes at the National Press Club event was HPI Director Dr. Gail Christopher, as well as HPI Advisory Committee member Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, former Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The initiative, "PLACE MATTERS: Addressing the Root Causes of Health Disparities,'' has identified 100 counties in America with the largest numbers or concentration of minority populations and is developing a structure that will provide strategies and tools for local officials to track and accelerate progress in addressing economic, social, political and environmental inequalities that lead to poor health. Partnering on the initiative are: the National Association of Counties, International City/County Manager's Association, National Association of County Health Officials, and the Center for the Advancement of Health, among many others.

"The Katrina disaster has revealed another apparent racial and ethnic health disparity,'' said Dr. Christopher. "Images of human suffering from the Gulf Coast remind us that after a natural or terrorist disaster African Americans and others facing economic disadvantages are at an increased risk for harm.'' Dr. Christopher said that barriers, such as concentrated poverty, unemployment and inadequate educational, housing and transportation resources contribute to health disparities.

"These conditions must be addressed, if real progress is to be made. Our initiative will build capacity of county health officials and community leaders to identify, assess, and share the most effective disparities reduction strategies,'' said Dr. Christopher, noting that other approaches to dealing with health disparities have met with limited success and that minorities are suffering and dying in disproportionate numbers from diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

In one of the initiative's first steps, HPI today released a study that examined the consequences if Congress adopts proposals to cap Medicaid enrollment or spending. The report found that if Medicaid enrollment is capped, as proposed, the number of uninsured in the United States in 2004 would have increased by six million people - up to 52 million Americans from the 46 million recently reported by the US Census Bureau.

Moreover, the impact on African Americans in particular would be devastating because Blacks have such a huge stake in the Medicaid program. The study found that 36 % of low-income Black adults, 73 % of Black children from low income families and 51% of all Black children under age six receive health benefits from Medicaid.

"Capping the Medicaid program could cripple the nation's ability to address health needs that result from future disasters, such as Katrina,'' said Stan Dorn, of the Economic and Social Research Institute, who was lead author of the study. "We need to retain as much flexibility as possible to help people who are suddenly out of work, and left without homes. The Medicaid program has served as a health safety net for many African American families and removing or reducing that safety net will only increase health disparities.''

Clearly, health disparities will increase if Medicaid is cut. Currently, data shows that:

l Infant mortality rates are 2 1/2 times higher for African Americans and 1 1/2 times higher for Native Americans.
l One out of every three African Americans suffer from hypertension
l The mortality rate from heart disease for African American men ages 35 to 44 is more than twice that of white men
l For every six whites with diabetes, 10 African Americans have the disease
l African American men are 1.5 times more likely to die from cancer than white men
l The incidence of cervical cancer is more than five times greater among Vietnamese women in the United States than among white women.
l The Pimas of Arizona have the highest known prevalence of diabetes in the world.

HPI has also launched other projects. Former California Congressman Ron Dellums is heading a commission examining policies to improve life options for young men of color. Dr. Sullivan is running a project working to transform the health care workforce to reflect the diversity of the nation and serve as a vital force in eliminating health disparities. The Courage to Love Commission on Infant Mortality is focusing on improving pregnancy outcomes and improving the quality of life for pregnant women of color. The Joint Center Health Policy Institute receives its primary funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.