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Health Care Reform is About You
Published by Pamela Gentry on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 12:42 am.By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst
Sept. 2, 2009 – The task of getting a health care reform bill through Congress will be decided by lawmakers who hear from the people they represent – will they hear from you?
I’ve tried to keep the discussion about health care reform alive on my blog to keep my readers informed with the hope of stirring up debate and eliciting responses on what “reform” should entail.
But the responses have been very few. Why? I’m not sure, so I decided to take this opportunity to provide a little insight into where Black folks fit into the health care picture. It may influence how you view the health care debate.
In 2004, when the economy was booming, 25 percent of African Americans were on Medicaid, a state and federally funded health care program for the poor. That’s about 9 million people.
By 2006, 44 percent of all African-American children were covered by Medicaid as well as 32 percent of their parents and 25 percent of senior citizens.
Now if we fast forward to 2009, we know unemployment has doubled in the Black community since 2004, more African Americans are uninsured and safety net providers like community health clinics aren’t able to meet the growing demand, some have even been faced with budget cuts.
And for those of us who are insured through our employer or have purchased insurance, we know our out-of-pocket costs and premiums have increased, in some cases as much as 17 percent.
Every bill under consideration now expands the roll of Medicaid, allowing states to increase the number of people eligible.
Black lawmakers have been pushing for health reform to address chronic diseases that disproportionally affect the African-American community. The Joint Center Health Policy Institute addressed these same concerns in a report in 2006 when they looked at the Medicaid program.
The report said, “African-American adults are more likely to have chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or hypertension. African-American children are more likely to have asthma.”
It added, “When African-American perspective is not integral to health policy decisions; health policymaking will fail to eliminate inequities and will also reinforce structural race-based disparities.”
That’s why this discussion is so important to the Black community and why I hope my readers will tune in to the debate.
This issue is about you – be engage.
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Hi Pam,
I am glad to hear you would like to stir up interest in this health care debate. As a Physician I can flat out tell you these current Bills floating around the House will make health care for ALL worse. It will become more expensive, massive tax increases will be imposed down the road, healthcare will be rationed and the quality of healthcare will diminish greatly!
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First of all, our practice is one of the few remaining medicare providers in our community due to the cumbersome, inefficient paperwork and poor payment schedules. NO MEDICAL GROUPS WANT TO DEAL WITH GOVERNMENT!
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Secondly, there are no provisions in this Bill to ADD Medical personnel and Doctors. Regardless of the lies spread by the House and our President these Bills do NOT exclude illegal immigrants. Our Health Care system is not ready to absorb the massive influx of “NEW” patients. Lastly, most Physicians work 60+ hours a week. When we become employees of the Government I can tell you we will no longer put in those kind of hours.
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If you like poor service, long lines and a bankrupted health care system…then support this proposed health care plan.
@REDNBLACK..WE ALLREADY HAVE POOR SERVICE, LONG LINES AND A BANKRUPTED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
Thanks, Pam, for this alert to our community. We elect Obama, now we need to support him. He is catching much heat at this time and the Black community has first hand knowledge and experience dealing with this type of pressure so let’s come together and support him as he tackles racism, death threats, haters, world peace, poverty, and health care. San Francisco has already implemented universal health care and there is no reason why america can’t. Support yourself and Obama by doing your part.
Hi Pam, thank you for this information. I have been trying to find some information on the health care reform, because I didn’t really understand it. I believed in my heart that it was something that would have benefited not only the black community but everyone else that cannot afford health insurance. I believe in President Obama and I support him 100 percent. Thank You very much!
Power To The People !
Change You Can Believe In !
America Yes We Can and Will !
Peace & Blessings !
Health care is your responsible of how you eat and keep busy. Yes at times we all need help when the unfortunate happens . But it is not the tax payers responsible to take care of people who are slothful. That is want family is to do is help ! Family by blood or community .
Jobs , Fair Wages , Education , Decent Housing , and Universal Health Care ! Economic & Social Engineers ! Power To The People ! Peace & Blessings !
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