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Donna Christensen (VI-At Large)

The Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act of 2005

(HR 3561)

In July 2005, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus introduced the Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act of 2005 (HEAL 2005).  This extremely comprehensive bill contains numerous provisions that would eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities by expanding health care access, improving health care quality, strengthening key academic institutions and research centers, and bolstering the health care infrastructure in underserved communities.  In particular, HEAL 2005 will:

·        expand health coverage to some of the more than 45 million Americans without health insurance, more than half of whom are minorities, by expanding existing health care programs, such as the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Indian Health Service, for low-income populations;

·        remove language and cultural barriers experienced by 21 million people in the United States in regards to procuring quality health care and establish a Center for Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Healthcare;

·        improve workforce diversity so that the healthcare and allied health workforce reflects, understands and respects the backgrounds, experiences and perspectives of the people it serves;

·        support and expand programs to reduce health disparities in conditions and diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, asthma and HIV/AIDS, that disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minorities;

·        improve data collection so that pertinent data on race, ethnicity, primary language and socioeconomic status are used to adequately identify, measure and find solutions for health disparities; 

·        guarantee accountability of the Bush administration to ensure funding of the Office of Minority Health and the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities and the important work that they do; and

·        ensure the availability of and access medical providers in communities of color, particularly those that are underserved and experience health disparities.