Posts Tagged ‘health equity’

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New Polling Shows Strong Support for Expanding Medicaid in the Deep South

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

This week advocates in the South received yet another good reason to push for expanding Medicaid in their states. A new poll from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found that residents in five of the most conservative states in the nation strongly support expanding Medicaid and implementing the core pieces of the Affordable Care Act. Residents in the deep Southern states of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina not only support expansion overall, but the support spans across racial lines.  This evidence of strong support among the very people they serve should be a clarion call for Southern state lawmakers to expand Medicaid.

The Joint Center conducted a poll of 2,500 Southern residents between March and April of this year to examine how the public in conservative states view key parts of the Affordable Care Act generally and the Medicaid expansion specifically. Among the findings:

  • • 62 percent support Medicaid expansion
  • • 75 percent support the creation of health insurance Exchanges
  • • Nearly 69 percent support financial help (premium subsidies) for low-income individuals
  • • Expansion draws support across all ethnic groups

There are nearly 15 million uninsured people in the South – the highest number and proportion of any region of the country. Expanding state Medicaid programs will provide insurance coverage to 7 million people, greatly improving the health and productivity of Southern residents. This dramatic increase in health care coverage through Medicaid will also address health disparities in reducing death and disease among nonelderly adults, racial and ethnic minorities, and residents of low-income areas. With the federal government covering the full cost of expansion for the first three years, expanding Medicaid will also be a great economic benefit to states. This should be a no brainer for the South.

But even with these clear cut health and economic benefits, nine Southern governors stand in opposition to accepting federal funding for expansion – with only, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Florida in favor. And even in Southern states with a supportive governor, challenges remain, especially when it comes to persuading state legislators.

The voices of their constituents should serve as a powerful motivator for policymakers who say they are representing the will of the people. The case for expanding Medicaid is clear. And advocates in the South will add this strong evidence of support to their efforts to mobilize and engage key constituencies. State policymakers have a responsibility to not just speak into their own megaphones but to listen to the voices in the crowd. These poll findings clearly show that the will of the people is to expand Medicaid in states across the Deep South.

Ongoing debates during the 2013 legislative sessions showed signs that even within the most conservative states expanding Medicaid was not completely off the table. Statements from Governor Bentley (AL) that Medicaid will not be expanded “as it exists under the current structure,” suggest that expansion remains possible. In addition, a number of governors and legislators are considering alternative models such as Arkansas’ premium assistance model to expand Medicaid.

As these poll results show, and to borrow from Mark Twain, reports of the demise of Medicaid expansion in the South have been greatly exaggerated. For economic, political, and moral reasons, expanding Medicaid is a top priority for advocates in the Southern states. At Community Catalyst, we will continue to lift up and promote all the reasons why Southern states should move forward with expanding Medicaid and implementing the Affordable Care Act. Advocates will discuss their Medicaid expansion campaign strategies at the 6th Annual Southern Health Partners convening in Atlanta, Georgia this July. There is no doubt the findings of this report will be an integral part of the conversation.

– Dara Taylor, Project Director
Southern Health Partners

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Posted in Affordable Care Act implementation, Health disparities, Medicaid | No Comments »

Providing People of Color the Assistance They Need to Enroll

Thursday, March 7th, 2013

By January 1, 2014, 13 million people of color, including many immigrants, will be able to get health coverage through the new Insurance Exchanges, or Marketplaces. But it is still “insanely confusing” to navigate the complex health insurance system. Many, especially those who will be insured for the first time and who don’t speak English at home, will rely on one-on-one assistance to enroll, choose the right health insurance plan, and maintain new insurance coverage. It will require the strong involvement of organizations serving people of color, immigrants and hard-to-reach populations to ensure these populations take full advantage of coverage benefits. In Massachusetts, community-based organizations were a key part of achieving the state’s 97 percent insurance coverage rate.

Your involvement matters! To promote robust outreach programs targeting people of color and immigrants, you can be involved in a number of ways:

  • • Partner with other community or state -based organizations. Identify other community-based organizations and consumer health advocates who are already engaged in connecting people to insurance coverage to develop partnerships, share resources, and facilitate a broader outreach effort. Email us if you need help with connections.
  • • Be part of the Navigator programs. The Affordable Care Act requires Exchanges to develop culturally and linguistically competent Navigator programs to help people to understand and choose insurance coverage. Be on the outlook for calls for proposals from your state if it plans to run its own Exchange or from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) if your state has a Federal or Partnership Exchange.
  • • Become an Assister (In-Person Assistance). Assisters, funded through Exchange Establishment grants, will fill in where needed. Assisters will support people looking for coverage through education and health literacy efforts. All states that run their own exchanges can apply for federal funds and develop an assister program. However, not every state will take this opportunity. Check with your state officials to see if your state is applying for this grant.

In addition, here are some tips for launching an effective outreach and enrollment campaign:

  • • Conduct outreach and education activities in locations the people you want to reach visit frequently such as schools, food pantries, religious institutions, beauty salons, day care centers, civic clubs, and ethnic restaurants and grocery stores carrying ethnic products. Contact ethnic radio and television channels, as well, to reach a broader audience.
  • • Tailor outreach messages and materials so they resonate with specific communities to clearly explain how marketplaces will directly impact their health concerns. Materials should be simple and culturally and linguistically appropriate.
  • • Provide on-going assistance during and beyond the open enrollment period to help newly insured people find providers and navigate the complex health care system, as well as help with renewal at yearly intervals.

Get involved now if you haven’t been part of your state outreach and enrollment effort! Check here for more tips.

- Quynh Chi Nguyen, Program and Policy Associate

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Posted in Affordable Care Act implementation, Health disparities | 1 Comment »

Ten Tips for Engaging Communities of Color in Policy Change: Lessons from a Health Equity Roundtable

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013

A few years ago, a handful of advocates might have gathered together to discuss the issue of health equity and best practices for engaging communities of color in policy campaigns. A few weeks ago at the Health Action conference hosted by Families USA, we packed a room with advocates, foundation staff and state officials from across the country who were eager to discuss this issue and go a step further to discuss meaningful engagement of communities of color in policy change. As more and more people begin to recognize the absolute necessity of having communities of color at the table throughout each stage of policy change the advocacy community needs to ensure this change happens in a respectful, effective, and meaningful way. During the roundtable discussion moderated by Community Catalyst, the participants in the room brainstormed a list of tips for building a strong multicultural coalition and meaningfully engaging communities of color in policy change. A Lot of great ideas were shared, but here’s a “top ten” list of tips:

  1. Practice basic etiquette
    Practicing basic etiquette and showing respect is a good idea when working with any individual or community, but when working with communities of color, it is important to think about how you are treating individuals you are working with and how your actions will be received by different cultures. To improve cross-cultural engagement, familiarize yourself with cultural etiquette and norms specific to the communities with whom you are working.
  2. Engage beyond education 
    People of color are often alienated at the policy table and used or tokenized when needed in policy campaigns. In addition, some define “engagement of communities of color” to mean education and outreach. It is important to go beyond education and to include, not use, communities of color as valued partners at all levels of policy change.
  3. Support meaningful engagement in policy change
    It is important to support communities of color to engage in policy change and to provide individuals in these communities with the tools and assistance to engage meaningfully. However, don’t forget about or underestimate the knowledge, skills, and tools these communities bring to the table.
  4. Don’t ignore or forget to address racism 
    Whether it is personal, internalized, or institutionalized, racism still exists. It is important to recognize there will be some racism in the policy arena and even more important to address racism during the initial stages of bringing a group together. Touch base with each member to see how he or she feels about this topic to provide a safe space for sharing feelings and to help build each person’s comfort level and confidence to address racism.
  5. Make a commitment
    Engaging communities of color is not a one-time thing that is done when convenient. It is about building a strong relationship. As is true for any relationship, this will take time, and it will be a long-term commitment.
  6. Find the right messenger 
    Find the right messenger from the communities you are working in. Sometimes the right messenger will be a grasstops leader that has been addressing health equity for a long time. Other times the right messenger will be a grassroots leader from a local church or school.
  7. Practice team-building 
    Consider this process of engaging communities of color as a team-building opportunity to provide a continuing growth of understanding on the health topics related to the Affordable Care Act. Think of this engagement as a partnership where all parties contribute. As the team-building process develops during the Affordable Care Act implementation campaign, a dynamic partnership that creates a strong base for future work together will emerge.
  8. Communicate effectively 
    Different populations and different cultures might have different preferences or abilities for communicating. Use tools for communicating that are inclusive and accepted. Think about the communications technology you will need to use for your campaigns and how you can make this technology an accessible tool for different populations.
  9. Provide financial support 
    Organizations that work with communities of color often have competing priorities and are often under-resourced. Think about investing in local organizations that represent and support communities of color or help these organizations identify potential funding sources.
  10. Celebrate wins
    At times it feels as if there is no end in sight for health reform implementation. That’s why it is important to celebrate small milestones as well as large victories. Yes, the vision of quality, affordable health care for all is enough to keep many in this fight, but cake and balloons along the way can’t hurt.

The rich discussion at the roundtable resulted in many great tips for engaging communities of color in policy change, but we know there are many more out there. Please share other tips, strategies, materials or insight and examples in the comments. For more information and resources on health equity, visit our Health Equity webpage.

– Angela Jenkins, State Advocacy Manager, Community Catalyst and
Joe Martinez, Consumer Outreach Coordinator, Health Action New Mexico 

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Delivery System Reform: A Vehicle to Improve Health Equity

Monday, September 24th, 2012

Provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) address a challenge many across the nation are trying to tackle – advancing health equity by improving the health status of and quality of care for racial and ethnic minorities. A recent report issued by the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) highlights eight states that participated in a health equity learning collaborative and have pursued a number of strategies to address health equity through ACA implementation. In addition to addressing health equity through activities that improve insurance coverage and access for minorities, states have also been capitalizing on efforts to ensure delivery system reform initiatives advance health equity.

Racial and ethnic minorities are burdened with poorer health status, poorer health outcomes, and lower quality of health care. The ACA has introduced several broad-based delivery reform initiatives that will help advance health equity.

1. One in four Americans has multiple chronic conditions, and within that population racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately burdened by chronic disease and illness. Health homes are an option for states to help improve care coordination for people with multiple chronic conditions and mental illness. The ACA offers an incentive of federal matching funds to states that create health homes.

2. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) provides states with another avenue to address disparities. The Innovation Center was established to test innovative care payment and delivery models that have the potential to reduce costs while preserving or enhancing the quality of care. The Innovation Center has launched a number of initiatives that will advance health equity and reduce health disparities.

3. Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) can also benefit racial and ethnic minority populations. ACOs, also known as the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), promote care coordination and incentivizes providers to deliver care that promotes cost-savings. To be considered patient-centered, an ACO must incorporate “a process for evaluating the health needs of the ACO’s assigned population, including consideration of diversity in its patient populations, and a plan to address the needs of its population”.

4. Racial and ethnic minority populations are more likely to suffer from preventable hospital readmissions. In a new program under Medicare, called the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, payments to hospitals will be reduced if an excessive number of patients are readmitted. This will become effective in October 2012.

The good news – state agencies are energized around delivery system reform and its implications for advancing health equity. The great news – this provides a perfect opportunity for state advocates and community-based organizations to partner with states on these efforts. So, how can consumer advocates partner with states to advanced health equity in delivery system reforms?

- Find out if your state is pursuing any of the delivery system options.

- Bring the consumer voice to the table. In New Mexico, the Department of Health instituted Turn the Curve – a new series of planning meetings that enabled marginalized members of the community to voice their opinions about their most critical health needs and strategies to address them. Health Action New Mexico, a state consumer advocacy organization, along with other health advocacy organizations and community members attended these meetings and expressed their concerns about proposed delivery system reforms that would affect racial and ethnic minorities, such as New Mexico’s Native American population.

- Build strategic alliances. Engage key policymakers and health officials, such as:

  1. State legislators and their staff
  2. State Medicaid agencies
  3. Local health agencies
  4. State Offices on Minority Health

In Minnesota, the health-related agencies have been committed to investing in increasing the validity and use of race/ethnicity/language (REL) data to understand, assess, and improve quality of care for racial and ethnic minorities. Health consumer advocates, such as Minnesota’s Alliance for Racial and Cultural Health Equity (ARCHé) worked with legislators to pass a bill that would call for improved health data collection practices that include information about race, ethnicity, and language. ARCHé has continued to work closely with state agencies, hospitals, clinics, and other community organizations to develop a report of recommendations for standardized REL data collection.

In Ohio, advocates at UHCAN Ohio have been working with the Ohio Commission on Minority Health and other partners, to advocate for robust data collection in major delivery reform initiatives. They are also working with one of the leading Medicaid managed care plans, CareSource, to hire community health workers and place them in community health centers as a way to engage at-risk patients in improving their health. Community health centers serve a high percentage of minority populations.

Consumer engagement is crucial for the success of all models of health care delivery, and meaningful implementation of delivery system reforms that will affect racial and ethnic minorities will require consumers from these populations to be at the table. Racial and ethnic minorities have expertise regarding how delivery systems should be set up to meet their needs and should be recognized by states as valuable partners.

- Angela Jenkins, State Advocacy Manager
& Leena Sharma, State Advocacy Manager

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Moving Latinas Health Forward: Celebrating the Latina Week of Action

Thursday, August 9th, 2012

It couldn’t be a more perfect week to celebrate the third annual Latina Week of Action. Eight days ago, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) began to level the playing field when it comes to gender inequity in health care by expanding women’s access to preventive health care benefits with no co-pay. And while the news and equitable coverage are monumental for all female-identified people, it’s especially significant for low-income women and women of color.

We know that disparities in health care access and coverage play out at extremely disproportionate rates when it comes to Latinas. For example, while Latinas exhibit lower breast cancer rates than white women, they are more likely than whites to be diagnosed at a later stage. Furthermore, LGBT Latinas are less likely than their white or straight peers to receive preventative health care. HHS cites a lack of screenings as one factor in creating these differences, and unsurprisingly, unequal access to health care as another.

But, thanks to Obamacare and with continued publicity about these new services, we can begin to decrease these disparities. In the past, insurance companies were allowed to charge higher premiums or deny individuals coverage if they were a cancer survivor – and, in fact, insurers in 45 states did just that. But starting in 2014 under the ACA, no one can be denied coverage for a preexisting condition! It means that continuous health care, without gaps due to illness, will be available, and families shouldn’t have to face bankruptcy because of mounting medical bills.

The new benefits under Obamacare go beyond cancer screenings and preventative well-woman visits though. They’re likely to help reduce the transmission and contraction of STIs by removing cost barriers for screening and counseling. When it comes to sexually transmitted infections and diseases, Latinas are four times more likely to have HIV/AIDS than non-Hispanic white women and Latinos are more than two times as likely to contract syphilis or gonorrhea than their white peers. But thanks to Obamacare, sexually active women will have access to free STI screenings and counseling.

The disparities continue with regards to pregnancy and prenatal care. From 2006-2008, 45 percent of Latinas reported experiencing an unintended pregnancies, nearly ten percentage points higher than their white counterparts. Some of these pregnancies can be linked to the limited access and affordability of birth control. However, thanks to Obamacare, insured women with a prescription for birth control can walk out of their pharmacies with their pills, Nuva Rings, Emergency Contraception, or any of the FDA-approved contraceptive methods- never once having opened their wallets. While cost isn’t the only barrier to birth control take-up, it surely stands as one limitation that Obamacare has dismissed.

We can celebrate cost-free prenatal care, too! The ACA and its new August 1 benefits will ensure pregnant women are covered for gestational diabetes screenings, breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling from licensed lactation counselors, and prenatal care—all without any co-pay. We’re hopeful that it can begin to decrease some of the disparities in prenatal care for Latinas specifically. A 2008 study by HHS found that while 71 percent of all women received prenatal care beginning in the first trimester of a pregnancy, only 64.7 percent of Hispanic women did.

Over here at Community Catalyst, we let out a quite a few cheers at the Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold Obamacare, and all these new forms of coverage. However, the more challenging part of the decision about Medicaid might have been a bit overshadowed. According to the Supreme Court, states can choose to expand their Medicaid coverage to include individuals making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty line. With this expansion, we can expect to see more low-income individuals and families receive health care, helping change the statistic that nearly one out of every three Hispanic/Latina woman does not have health insurance.

If state governors and legislatures elect to expand their Medicaid coverage per Obamacare’s allowance, more working class families and individuals—those making too much for current Medicaid eligibility requirements, but too little to actually afford their own health care—could become eligible for coverage and gain preventative care.

Take the time to celebrate these new benefits. But, if you live in a state where your governor has firmly refused to expand Medicaid coverage under the new Obamacare arrangements (we’re looking at you Florida, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi, Wisconsin, just to name a few), or where your Governor has not come out firmly on one side or another on the Medicaid expansion, send a letter expressing your support for the expansion. If your governor has already committed to supporting greater Medicaid coverage, send a note of thanks (props to you, California, Washington, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota and Illinois).

And make sure to get out the word regarding the new expansions for women’s health care. While there may no longer be a co-pay for your annual visit to the gynecologist, women will continue to avoid making appointments for screenings, well-person check-ups, and even birth control coverage as long as they still think there’s a cost barrier. The law is only one step (one great step) in beginning to break down gender and racial disparities in health care.

– Emily Polak, State Advocacy Manager

Please note: The new preventive services for women went into effect on August 1. Most consumers will see the increase in services and coverage the next time their insurance plans are renewed.

 

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Working Toward Health Equity Together

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Community Catalyst is proudly taking part in the Health Equity Can’t Wait! blog carnival celebrating National Minority Health Month. Participating bloggers are health, consumer, civil rights, and provider advocates committed to promoting health equity. You can find all the posts for the carnival here.

From 2003 to 2006, the cost of racial and ethnic health disparities and resulting premature deaths was $1.24 trillion nationally. Despite national and local efforts to address disparities, people of color continue to experience poorer health than their white counterparts, including higher rates of infant mortality, lower life expectancy and increased prevalence of chronic diseases. If nothing is done to address racial and ethnic health disparities, these problems are likely to worsen as the diversity of the population grows.

Reducing racial and ethnic health disparities includes providing quality and affordable health care to communities of color. According to a recent report, communities of color comprise “about one-third of the U.S. population and more than half of the people who are uninsured.” While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) promises sweeping changes to the health care system, health equity cannot be addressed through implementation of the law alone – changes must happen across society and should also include improvements to health. This means addressing the social determinants of health, such as employment, education, access to healthy foods, and safe neighborhoods.

Over the past five years Community Catalyst’s work to advance health equity has focused on helping the most vulnerable consumers, including people of color and those who face barriers to care because of their immigrant status or primary language. We have provided leadership and support to state and local consumer organizations, policymakers and foundations that are working to guarantee access to health care for everyone.

The best change occurs when the communities most affected are involved. Health equity will be achieved through full participation by communities of color and their engagement in the policy making process and implementation of the ACA. We strongly promote the participation of and partnership with communities of color to our partners. To better support state and local advocates, we are working to identify the best ways to engage communities of color in implementation of the ACA. In addition, we partner with foundations to provide financial support and technical assistance to state advocacy coalitions and encourage them to engage communities of color. This focus is reflected in grant requirements for two of our programs: Consumer Voices for Coverage, a joint initiative with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Affordable Care Act Implementation Fund.

Additionally health equity is incorporated into the goals for all of our programs:

  • • We have joined with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on the Roadmaps to Health Community Grants program to provide funding to organizations working to address social or economic factors that impact the health of people in their community. For example, advocates in Missouri identified that one key factor in maintaining employment, and consequently good health, is access to transportation to and from work. Many communities of color rely on public transportation, but this need often goes unfulfilled. Missouri advocates are using their grant funds to expand public transportation to these underserved communities.
  • • Our Hospital Accountability Team is currently working to ensure federal rules require non-profit hospitals to engage community members and leaders directly, as they research and plan strategies to address a wide range of issues that impact community health—transportation, access to health care and healthy foods, for example—that often hit harder in communities of color.
  • • To assist advocates on the ground engaging in the development of their state health insurance Exchange under the ACA, our policy team recently developed six principles to help create Exchanges that are responsive to the needs of people of color and immigrants.

Health equity is an organizational priority for Community Catalyst, and, consequently, reflected in our advocacy work. However, we need to build a network of community-based groups, state and national advocacy organizations, foundations, and individuals to stand and work together to address health disparities effectively. Please get involved and invested in reducing health disparities by demanding that lawmakers fully implement the ACA, the Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and the National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity.

– Quynh Chi Nguyen, Program and Policy Associate
& Aurelia Aceves, National Urban Fellow

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Health equity in the Exchanges: Some good first steps

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Last Monday, the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the final rules for the establishment of state Exchanges, a competitive marketplace for individuals and small businesses to purchase insurance. In addition to providing guidance to states as they develop these marketplaces, the rules may also help the Exchanges to better serve a diverse population.

HHS made some positive changes to specific provisions on nondiscrimination protections, language access, and Navigators’ linguistic and cultural competency.

  • · Banning discrimination: All Exchange related activities including marketing practices, benefit designs of qualified health plans, and Navigator outreach and enrollment must comply with existing federal laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation and disability.
  • · Access to language access services at no cost: Individuals and families with limited English proficiency will receive Exchange related information (i.e. notices, descriptions of health plan choices and grievance procedures) quickly and easily through oral interpretation, written translations and notices in non-English languages indicating the availability of language services. There is no charge for these services. HHS plans to develop guidance on best practices related to standards on language access services. This is a big win.
  • · Navigator training on linguistic and cultural competency: Exchanges must establish training standards for Navigators to ensure that they serve the needs of a racially and ethnically diverse population. Further guidance on training model standards for Navigators is promised.

These are good first steps. However, a lot more still needs to be done. Advocates have more opportunities to push the federal government and state policymakers to develop robust policies that help the Exchanges be more responsive to the needs of people of color and immigrants and reduce health disparities. It is important to continue to raise the voices of consumers in support of accessible, equitable Exchanges.

  • · At the federal level, we should urge HHS to quickly develop guidance on best practices related to standards on language access services and models for Navigator training on linguistic and cultural competency.
  • · At the state level, while the final rules require at least one person on an Exchange Board to be a consumer representative, HHS leaves it up to states to decide on the diversity of the Exchange governing board. Therefore, we should advocate for state legislation that requires the Exchange board to mirror the gender, cultural, ethnic and geographical diversity of the states.

Community Catalyst is here to help move health equity forward in states. Based on our work on Exchanges over the past few years we’ve recently developed six principles to promote racial and ethnic health equity in Exchanges to help you shape your state Exchange. To make progress, we must be persistent and work with other stakeholders to increase the involvement and impact of members of the vulnerable communities that have the most to gain from full implementation of the ACA.

– Quynh Chi Nguyen, Program and Policy Associate

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Federal money well spent: grants to save money by promoting community health

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

All across the country, health officials are boasting about new federal grants, awarded yesterday, that will help them save money by improving the health of Americans. More than $100 million in Community Transformation Grants went to projects in 36 states to address the underlying causes of chronic diseases that drive the bulk of national health costs. The projects promote active living, healthy eating, smoking cessation and preventive services and focus on addressing the higher rates of disease among communities of color.

Funding comes from the crucial Prevention and Public Health Fund, authorized in the Affordable Care Act, to help slow the persistent growth of health costs by preventing disease. Since its creation, the $17 billion fund has been under attack from Congressional Republicans who oppose the ACA. Earlier this month, President Obama himself targeted the fund for $3.5 billion in cuts as part of his deficit reduction plan. The grants show why the fund is so important: it will reach into communities nationwide to improve the lives and health of everyday people.

Even some of those most opposed to the ACA scored some of the money. For example, the administration of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who has joined a federal lawsuit challenging the ACA, won $3 million. News reports quoted his administration talking about the grants helping to save money. Similar comments came from leaders in other states. “The best way to reduce health care costs is by living healthier lives,” said Live Well Omaha Executive Director Kerri Peterson of a grant to Douglas County, Nebraska.

California and Texas drew the most money — $22 million and $11 million respectively. Most of the money went to public health departments. One of the few community-based organizations to win a grant was My Brother’s Keeper in Mississippi, which works to improve the health of African-Americans.

Thirty-five grants support proven interventions, while 26 support communities seeking to build the capacity to undertake wellness projects. Those 26 provide a great opportunity for advocates and community members to get involved as project leaders organize an assessment of community needs, build coalitions, and devise a plan to be submitted for more funding.

Officially, project success will be measured through improvements in weight, nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation and emotional well-being, according to Ursula Bauer, director of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. But look also for a drop in long-term health costs over time.

Examples of specific initiatives include a South Dakota project to expand smoke-free, multi-unit housing and make streets and trails more suitable for walking and biking. They also include Texas plans to expand access to fresh produce in cities and towns.

A separate set of grants went earlier this month to seven national organizations to help expand the reach of the grants. Among those receiving money was the National REACH Coalition, a Community Catalyst partner that works in communities to address racial and ethnic disparities in health.

– Alice Dembner, Deputy Policy Director

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New National Legislation to Advance Health Equity

Friday, September 16th, 2011

A bill filed in Congress yesterday provides hundreds of tools to address the disgraceful health disparities that plague our communities and deprive so many people of color of long, healthy lives.

The Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2011 (HEAA) was introduced by leaders of the Congressional Tri-Caucus – the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. It builds on the expansions of coverage in the Affordable Care Act, the health equity initiatives of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and activities to enhance community health underway across the country. In fact, many ideas from a version of the bill introduced in a previous Congress were incorporated into the ACA.

The new bill, HR 2954, includes creative measures to improve the health of families of all backgrounds by eliminating barriers to care, promoting better ways to provide care, expanding and diversifying the health workforce, and addressing factors that deeply affect our health, such as the environment in which we live, work and play. It also includes steps to improve cultural and linguistic competency of care and enhancements to collection and analysis of data about health disparities. Advocates for health equity, including Community Catalyst and many other organizations, contributed ideas for the new legislation.

Our hope is that these ideas can be translated into initiatives that help reduce the disproportionate number of black infants dying in their first year of life, the disproportionate number of Hispanics suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, and similar disparities. Studies show that reducing racial and ethnic health disparities not only saves lives but could save billions of dollars a year in medical costs .

Community Catalyst applauds the filing of the bill and encourages advocates and lawmakers to support its provisions. We will draw on the bill as we work with our partners nationwide to enhance health equity.

– Alice Dembner, Deputy Policy Director

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Help Shape Health Equity Work

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Consumer advocates have a new opportunity to influence regional work to strengthen health equity. This is your chance to make a difference!

The Office of Minority Health in the federal Department of Health and Human Services is seeking nominations for 10 regional health equity councils – one in each of the 10 HHS regions. The councils are being established to help shape and spur action on the National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity, which was released in April by the federal government. The strategy contains lots of good ideas for community engagement, but no new government funding. A strong council could help push the work forward, and facilitate fund-raising. Each council will contain up to 35 members from the public and private sectors. Let’s ensure that consumer and community voices are heard.

OMH is accepting nominations through midnight on July 18 at RHECnomination@minorityhealth.hhs.gov. Qualifications needed include leadership skill and experience working on health disparities. At a minimum, nominations must include the name, title, address, phone and email for both the nominee and the nominator. For more information, refer to the full description from HHS.

– Alice Dembner, Deputy Policy Director

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