Publications: Minority Health
An Unequal Burden: The True Cost of High-Deductible Health Plans for Communities of Color discusses the full costs associated with high-deductible health plans and why these expenses are disproportionately unaffordable for racial and ethnic minorities. It also examines several myths about health savings accounts (HSAs), which are often coupled with such health plans. 12 pp. Free (September 2008)
Health Coverage in Communities of Color: Talking about the New Census Numbers takes a closer look at the 2007 uninsured data. The number of uninsured was considerably higher in 2007 than it was in 2000, and communities of color continue to bear the brunt of this crisis. This fact sheet looks at who is uninsured, where people get their health insurance, and why public programs are vital to communities of color. 4 pp. Free (September 2008)
Identifying and Evaluating Equity Provisions in State Health Care Reform explores how states can increase health equity by expanding health coverage and addressing issues of access to care, quality of care, social determinants of health, and infrastructure reforms. The report also evaluates existing health equity laws, regulations, and reform proposals in five states. From The Opportunity Agenda, Families USA, and The Commonwealth Fund. 56 pp. Free (April 2008)
Universal and Equal: Ensuring Equity in State Health Care Reform States across the country are looking for ways to expand affordable, quality health coverage to more people, but few states have focused specifically on the problem of inequality in health care. This piece presents strategies advocates can use to integrate health equity into larger health reform efforts, as well as a checklist they can use to evaluate their states' proposed expansions. From The Opportunity Agenda and Families USA. 8 pp. Free (January 2008)
Confronting Disparities while Reforming Health Care: A Look at Massachusetts examines how state advocates were able to build on expansion efforts and address the host of issues that affect disparities in health and health care. Includes an extensive discussion of lessons that can be learned from the Massachusetts experience. 10 pp. Free (Updated January 2008)
New Medicaid Regulations Discriminate against U.S.-Born Children of Immigrants focuses on a specific provision of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA), which has established regulations for citizenship documentation requirements for Medicaid. This provision creates an arbitrary and harmful distinction between children who are born in the U.S. to immigrants versus those born to citizens. 4 pp. Free (August 2006)
The Burden of Proof: New Regulations Worsen Citizenship Documentation Requirement in Medicaid examines the likely consequences of the new Medicaid citizenship documentation regulations and advises advocates on how to mitigate the harm these requirements may cause. 11 pp. (July 2006)
Analysis of the Medicaid Citizenship Documentation Regulations discusses the interim final regulations that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued in July. The regulations alleviated the burden of documenting citizenship for several important groups of Medicaid beneficiaries and applicants. However, there are still many areas of concern in the new regulations, and millions of eligible Americans will have their coverage delayed or denied because of these onerous requirements. 8 pp. (July 2006)
Making Public Programs Work for Communities of Color: An Action Kit for Community Leaders This action kit is designed to provide community leaders with the information, tools, and resources necessary to engage in health advocacy and improve the health and well-being of their communities. (January 2006)
"Reforming" Medicaid: How State Waivers Will Hurt Racial and Ethnic Minorities examines the potentially negative impact that recently proposed changes to the South Carolina and Florida Medicaid programs will have on minority health. This issue brief also explores the role of Medicaid in improving access to health care for racial and ethnic minorities and analyzes the threat that state Medicaid waivers pose to the health of minority populations. 7 pp. Free (November 2005)
Medicaid and Minority Health: Why Cutting Medicaid Will Exacerbate Health Disparities
Analyzes the relationship between Medicaid and minority health, explores the causes of racial and ethnic health disparities, and examines how recent proposals to cut Medicaid will worsen these disparities. (February 11, 2005)
How Will Association Health Plans Affect Minority Health? Separating Fact from Fiction
Analyzes the real impact that AHPs will have on the health care access of uninsured racial and ethnic minorities. (February 2005)
Cut Medicaid--Increase Health Disparities: How Cuts to "Optional" Beneficiaries Will Affect Minority Health
Explores the lack of true distinction between mandatory and so-called "optional" enrollees. It also analyzes how proposed Medicaid cuts that target "optional" enrollees will exacerbate health disparities because they will have a disproportionate impact on the health care and health outcomes of racial and ethnic minorities, particularly African-American seniors in nursing homes. (February 9, 2005)
Presidential Candidates' Health Initiatives: How Will They Affect the Hispanic Community?
Families USA, with input from the National Association for Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund (NALEO), developed this document for Latino elected officials to raise awareness about specific health policies and suggest the likely impact of these policies on the Hispanic community. The publication is available in English and Spanish. 9 pp. (October 2004)
The TennCare Waiver and African Americans: The Truth Behind the Rhetoric examines the impact of the TennCare waiver on African Americans. TennCare is a crucial source of health care for all Tennesseans, and it provides coverage for two in every five African Americans in the state. The new waiver, released on August 19th, represents a radical departure from the existing program that will gravely threaten access to quality, affordable health care for African Americans in Tennessee. This two-page fact sheet explores these issues. 2pp. (August 25, 2004)
The Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA): A Good Investment in America's Future | en Español 2 pp. Free (December 11, 2003)
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