 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| OCurrent Advocacy |
Health reform is closer than it has ever been. As the Senate works on producing a final bill, it is a critical
time to advocate for solutions to health disparities. The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is
determined to see solutions to health disparities and inequalities. SNMA held a March for Health Equity in
September 2009 and have been asking you to contact your legislators.
More than ever before, it is important to contact our Senators as the Senate debates and amends one
comprehensive bill. Below is a preformed letter you may use to contact your senators.
Click here for the preformed letter
Click here to find your Senators
As your constituent, I’m writing you because health reform is a very important issue to me. I am
glad that the Senate and House have drafted bills aimed at fixing our healthcare system. I believe a
major part of our healthcare system that needs to be addressed is health disparities. Healthcare
disparities should be a focus of the health reform bill because they represent a failure of the
healthcare system to properly treat individuals who do have access. In September 2009, the Joint
Center for Political and Economic Studies put out a report entitled: “The Economic Burden of Health
Inequalities in the United States.” The final conclusion made by the report is quoted below:
• “Between 2003 and 2006 the combined costs of health inequalities and premature death in
the United States was $1.24 trillion.”
• “Eliminating health disparities for minorities would have reduced direct medical care
expenditures by $229.4 billion for the years 2003-2006.”
• “Between 2003 and 2006, 30.6% of direct medical care expenditures for African Americans,
Asians, and Hispanics were excess costs due to health inequalities.”
• “Eliminating health inequalities for minorities would have reduced indirect costs associated
with illness and premature death by more than one trillion dollars between 2003 and 2006.”
From my understanding, both the Senate bill and the House bill contain elements to address
healthcare disparities. Both bills attempt to increase access to health care and primary care
providers which is only part of the solution to healthcare disparities. I am writing you because there
are aspects of both bills that I would like to see incorporated in the final health reform bill that will
be signed by President Obama.
They include
• Continue funding of pipeline programs that have been effective in preparing students from
disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented minorities to enroll in medical school.
• Establish a grant program to support the delivery of evidence-based and community-based
prevention and wellness services aimed at reducing health disparities. Train community
health workers to promote positive health behaviors in medically underserved communities.
• Reform Graduate Medical Education to increase training of primary care providers. Provide
training grants for professionals to be educated about prevention, public health, and cultural
competence training for health care professionals.
• Require reporting of quality outcome data on race, ethnicity, gender, geographic location,
primary language, and underserved rural and urban populations. Require public reporting on
quality measures through a user-friendly website.
• Increase the supply of health care professionals by establishing loan repayment programs
for public health workers and physicians who chose to work in underserved communities.
Expand funding for the National Health Service Corps and Title VII.
• Develop, through a multi-stakeholder process, quality measures that allow assessments of
health outcomes; continuity and coordination of care; safety, effectiveness and timeliness of
care; health disparities; and appropriate use of health care resources.
I hope you understand that addressing health disparities is a vital solution to the soaring cost of
healthcare and will increase the quality of care Americans receive. I appreciate your contribution to
the health reform bill that will make America a better, healthier country.
Our input and combined effort on this matter is critical: This important legislation that will have a significant
impact on our practice of medicine, but may not adequately meet the needs of underserved communities
without your input. If you have any questions or would like to let us know of your Senator’s response,
please feel free to send us an email.
Click here to read more about the Senate health insurance reform bill.
time to advocate for solutions to health disparities. The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is
determined to see solutions to health disparities and inequalities. SNMA held a March for Health Equity in
September 2009 and have been asking you to contact your legislators.
More than ever before, it is important to contact our Senators as the Senate debates and amends one
comprehensive bill. Below is a preformed letter you may use to contact your senators.
Click here for the preformed letter
Click here to find your Senators
As your constituent, I’m writing you because health reform is a very important issue to me. I am
glad that the Senate and House have drafted bills aimed at fixing our healthcare system. I believe a
major part of our healthcare system that needs to be addressed is health disparities. Healthcare
disparities should be a focus of the health reform bill because they represent a failure of the
healthcare system to properly treat individuals who do have access. In September 2009, the Joint
Center for Political and Economic Studies put out a report entitled: “The Economic Burden of Health
Inequalities in the United States.” The final conclusion made by the report is quoted below:
• “Between 2003 and 2006 the combined costs of health inequalities and premature death in
the United States was $1.24 trillion.”
• “Eliminating health disparities for minorities would have reduced direct medical care
expenditures by $229.4 billion for the years 2003-2006.”
• “Between 2003 and 2006, 30.6% of direct medical care expenditures for African Americans,
Asians, and Hispanics were excess costs due to health inequalities.”
• “Eliminating health inequalities for minorities would have reduced indirect costs associated
with illness and premature death by more than one trillion dollars between 2003 and 2006.”
From my understanding, both the Senate bill and the House bill contain elements to address
healthcare disparities. Both bills attempt to increase access to health care and primary care
providers which is only part of the solution to healthcare disparities. I am writing you because there
are aspects of both bills that I would like to see incorporated in the final health reform bill that will
be signed by President Obama.
They include
• Continue funding of pipeline programs that have been effective in preparing students from
disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented minorities to enroll in medical school.
• Establish a grant program to support the delivery of evidence-based and community-based
prevention and wellness services aimed at reducing health disparities. Train community
health workers to promote positive health behaviors in medically underserved communities.
• Reform Graduate Medical Education to increase training of primary care providers. Provide
training grants for professionals to be educated about prevention, public health, and cultural
competence training for health care professionals.
• Require reporting of quality outcome data on race, ethnicity, gender, geographic location,
primary language, and underserved rural and urban populations. Require public reporting on
quality measures through a user-friendly website.
• Increase the supply of health care professionals by establishing loan repayment programs
for public health workers and physicians who chose to work in underserved communities.
Expand funding for the National Health Service Corps and Title VII.
• Develop, through a multi-stakeholder process, quality measures that allow assessments of
health outcomes; continuity and coordination of care; safety, effectiveness and timeliness of
care; health disparities; and appropriate use of health care resources.
I hope you understand that addressing health disparities is a vital solution to the soaring cost of
healthcare and will increase the quality of care Americans receive. I appreciate your contribution to
the health reform bill that will make America a better, healthier country.
Our input and combined effort on this matter is critical: This important legislation that will have a significant
impact on our practice of medicine, but may not adequately meet the needs of underserved communities
without your input. If you have any questions or would like to let us know of your Senator’s response,
please feel free to send us an email.
Click here to read more about the Senate health insurance reform bill.
Health Reform in the Senate: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
5113 Georgia Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20011
ph: 202-882-2881
healthpolicy@snma.org
Washington, DC 20011
ph: 202-882-2881
healthpolicy@snma.org
| Web Hosting by Yahoo! |