National Alliance for Hispanic Health Urges Action on Insurance Access as First Step to Achieving Best Health Outcomes for All

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National Alliance for Hispanic Health

Feb 26, 2010, 05:45 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Health is more than insurance coverage, but it is critical that this step be accomplished as we continue our journey towards health care for all," said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's leading Hispanic health advocacy group. According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than a third (37.1%) of Hispanic workers do not have health insurance.

Following yesterday's White House health reform summit, the Alliance urged its members to write to Congress to support timely passage of a health insurance reform bill combining the best of legislation currently passed by the House and Senate and ideas presented at the health reform summit. Among actions urged by Alliance members —

Recruitment, education, and placement of bilingual, bicultural providers throughout the health care system.
Consumer and provider representation as well as business and labor representation in the determination of health and mental health benefits, allocation of resources, cost containment, and quality of care standards.
Consumer choice and access to health care plans.
Expansion of consumer education and health education activities.
Elimination of barriers to insurance coverage regardless of health status, gender, or disability.
Access to quality health care to all persons and families, regardless of socioeconomic status; including, elimination of legal barriers to coverage for legal immigrants.
Improved capacity to deliver primary and preventative care at the community level, and expanded community health delivery and family services networks.
Research and policy that fosters personalized medicine; supports decision-making between a provider and patient; and, is designed to collect and analyze data to report, at a minimum, findings by race and ethnicity, gender and age.

According to Dr. Delgado, "with one million Hispanics losing their job over the past year the economic crisis is increasing the number of families that must go without insurance. For all American families, action on health insurance reform can no longer wait"

Editors Note: The Alliance's Statement of Principles on Access to Affordable Quality Health Care is available at http://www.hispanichealth.org/principles/. The Alliance's overview of House and Senate legislation and elements of President's plan is at http://www.hispanichealth.org/pdf/healthreform.pdf

About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health: The Alliance is the nation's foremost science-based source of information and trusted advocate for the health of Hispanics in the United States. The Alliance represents thousands of Hispanic health providers across the nation providing services to more than 15 million each year, making a daily difference in the lives of Hispanic communities and families. For more information, visit http://www.hispanichealth.org or call the Alliance's Su Familia National Hispanic Family Health Helpline at 1-866-783-2645.

SOURCE National Alliance for Hispanic Health