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Black and Hispanic State Legislators Join Forces to Fight Health Disparities

Recognizing that (1) racial and ethnic disparities in health care are a national crisis that must be attacked at the state and local level and (2) there is strength in numbers, leaders of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) announced that the two groups will join forces in an effort to improve access to quality health care for members of these two minority populations. This collaboration, announced at the 2003 NBCSL/NHCSL Health Care Disparities Conference last November in Phoenix, marks the first time the two caucuses have teamed up to address a specific issue.

“As elected officials, it is our responsibility to work together to educate our peers and other policy-makers about the need--and in fact the business rationale for beleaguered state economies--to ensure that minorities have access to health care services and that they are provided [with] care in a culturally and ethnically appropriate manner that promotes improved outcomes,” says Rep. Mary Coleman (D-Miss.), president of the NBCSL.

To accomplish their mutual goal, the caucuses will work with the National Institute to Combat Health Disparities (NICHD) to form a Health Disparities Consortium that will address unequal health outcomes among blacks and Hispanics as well as the social, economic and environmental conditions that affect these disparities. Under NICHD’s guidance, the consortium will develop and implement “a viable plan and intervention strategy” for leveling the health care playing field. Specific tactics will include:

• Organizing regional meetings to establish goals and benchmarks.
   
• Conducting primary research studies and compiling existing secondary data.
   
• Investigating, evaluating and prioritizing best-practice solutions.
   
• Identifying and linking prevention, primary care, health education, health service delivery, diet and activity community partners.
   
• Undertaking a cost-effectiveness analysis to enumerate outcomes.
   
• Convening a National Health Disparities Summit biannually to explain the plan, develop interventions, and measure and modify programs as needed.