In January, when I assumed the post of chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, I adopted the theme "The March Toward Health Equity," as a nod to the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches and to my belief that quality, affordable health care is a civil right that every American should enjoy.
In my first year as CBC Health Braintrust Chair, I've traveled the nation, meeting with medical professionals, health policy experts and patients to get an honest, unvarnished look at health disparities and the toll they've taken on vulnerable populations -- particularly in the African American community.
The result of my year one examination, The 2015 Kelly Report on Health Disparities in America, is a stark assessment of the impact of health inequity and the barrier it poses to socioeconomic progress for African Americans.
The report, which I released today, is a Congressional analysis of health inequity in America that brings together Members of Congress, medical professionals and public health thought leaders from across the country to examine the root causes and impacts of health disparities in America and provide a comprehensive set of legislative and policy recommendations to address them.
It's a call-to-action for Congress to make improving health outcomes in diverse communities a national priority. A glimpse at some of the statistics from the Kelly Report underscores the urgency with which lawmakers need to act to save lives.
- African Americans die from all the top 10 causes of death -- including cancer and heart disease -- at a higher rate than any other racial or ethnic group in America,
This is just a snapshot of the overall problem, but it couldn't be more evident that America's health strategy needs retooling.
That's why the Kelly Report features a five-point plan to reduce health disparities in America. The plan focuses on five key avenues through which we can achieve health equity: Access, Workforce Diversity. Innovation & Research, Community Engagement and Federal Action on Health Care. Allow me a moment to outline a few of the core recommendations proposed by the plan.
- Access -- Access to comprehensive, quality health care services is key to promoting health equity and putting a healthy life within reach for all. I propose that we achieve this goal through several initiatives, including fully implementing Medicaid expansion and setting up programs to encourage primary care providers to practice in underserved communities.
These five pillars of progress in minority health policy will close the health equity gap and ensure the basic human right of all Americans to a healthy life.
Your zip code, ethnicity and bank balance shouldn't determine your health. The Kelly Report on Health Disparities in America puts us one step closer to balancing the scales and realizing the core mission of the CBC Health Braintrust: Achieving health equity in a generation.