The Wichita NAACP Partners with Sedgwick County to host Tonya Lewis Lee in Wichita to fight Infant Mortality

The Wichita Branch NAACP to partner with the Sedgwick County Health Department's Healthy Babies Program to host award-winning TV Producer, Tonya Lewis Lee, as she travels through Wichita on a three city tour throughout the State of Kansas. Ms. Lee’s visit is part of a statewide education campaign coordinated by the Kansas Blue Ribbon Panel on Infant Mortality in April, National Minority Health Awareness Month.

Researchers and health experts have sought unsuccessfully for years to determine why African American women suffer significantly higher infant mortality rates than their white counterparts. As the gap between black and white infant deaths continues to expand, it is time to address this paradox with new approaches. Over the past decade, the infant mortality rate for Kansas has remained relatively unchanged while the U.S. rate continued to decline. In 2008, Kansas’ rate of 7.25 infant deaths per 1,000 live births was higher than the national rate of 6.59 per 1,000 live births. (The national rate is based on preliminary death data published by the National Center for Vital Statistics).

According to the most recent annual summary published by the National Center for Vital Statistics (2007 data), Kansas ranked first (worst) among other states for black infant mortality. Reports from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Bureaus of Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics indicate the following: From 2000 – 2009, a 33 percent increase in the infant mortality rate was observed for non-Hispanic black infants. The non-Hispanic black infant mortality rate in 2009 was 2.6 times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic white infants. In 2009, Non-Hispanic black babies represent 6.8 percent of births and 15.2 percent of deaths.

While the root causes of these disparities in infant mortality rates is not thoroughly understood, the operating theory has been that the high incidence of infant deaths among African Americans is attributed to higher teen pregnancy rates, single motherhood, lower education levels, poverty, stress, and–most recently suggested–genetic causes.

Clearly, however, the need for new approaches to understanding this phenomenon is underscored by research disclosing that high levels of infant mortality persist, even when most of these factors are controlled. Also consider that African Americans have higher infant mortality rates in every age category. Furthermore, the genetic theory is weakened by research that shows better birth outcomes among foreign–born black women. It seems that regardless of their socioeconomic status, native–born African American women fare worse in birth outcomes compared to white women at every income and education level.

Wichita, KS – Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Host Organization: Sedgwick County Health Department, Healthy Babies Program
Contact: Susan Wilson, Program Director – sewilson@sedgwick.gov

Topeka, KS – Thursday, April 21, 2011
Host Organization: The Kansas African American Affairs Commission
Contact: Mildred Edwards, Executive Director – mildred.edwards@ks.gov

Kansas City, KS – Friday, April 22, 2011
Host Organization: Mother & Child Health Coalition
Contact: Susan McLoughlin, Executive Director – smcloughlin@mchc.net



FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATE OF KANSAS THREE-CITY TOUR, PLEASE CONTACT:

Aiko Allen, MS, Director
Center for Health Disparities
KDHE Division of Health
Email: AiAllen@kdheks.gov
Phone: 785-296-0781

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"What's in in for you?": WSU to host a public panel discussion on the Affordable Care Act

The new Health Care Legislation is complex. Come and gain a new understanding of how it affects you, your family and your medical care!

When: Saturday, May 22, 2010 2pm-4pm
Where: Rhatighan Student Center (formerly the CAC) Room 203 on the WSU Campus

The panelists:

• Dr. Richard Skibba, M.D., Retired, Board Certified Gastroenterologist and Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
• Monica Flask, Director of Project Access, Central Plains Regional Health Care Foundation
• David Wilson, President of Kansas AARP
• Bev White, President and CEO the Center for Health and Wellness

Admission is FREE

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Kansas Healthcare "Freedom" Amendment fails in the Senate but there's One more hill to climb

Thanks to all of you who called, wrote letters, and spoke with your Legislators, the Kansas Health care "Freedom" Amendment (or as I like to call it, the "we-don't-need-health-care-reform-in-Kansas-according-to-what-I-read-on-the-Internet Act") was DEFEATED in the Senate! It failed on Thursday with a 4-4 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee (a majority vote is needed to move a bill out of committee). The bill was brought back again on Friday and failed once more on a 5-5 vote!

But today, the House heard an identical version of the bill on the floor (HCR5032). A floor vote was taken and the measure passed favorably with a 76-44 vote. However, this is not a proposed statute, but a proposed Constitutional Amendment, meaning for passage it must receive a vote of 2/3rds of the Legislature (they need 84 of 125 possible votes in the House)

The measure, as confirmed by the Associated Press, is designed to give the state grounds for a legal challenge against any part of the federal health overhaul that officials don't like.

The Kansas House is expected to bring it back for final action TOMORROW. They would need to pick up 8 additional votes to pass it and send it Back over to the Senate.

So once again, we are calling on you to let your voices be heard. We need you to contact your Representatives in the House and tell them to VOTE NO on HCR5032 (The Kansas Health Care "Freedom" Amendment). Let them know loud and clear that we are not interested in playing these types of partisan games. America is on the cusp of real Health Care reform and 300,000 uninsured Kansas will directly benefit. 65,000 Kansas small businesses will soon see a tax cut that will allow them to provide health care for their employees and 44,000 Seniors will see the doughnut hole in Medicare Part "D" closed. If the opponents of Health Care reform are so Hot on Tort Reform, let them begin by scuttling this effort to set up a frivolous lawsuit with these trite obstruction tactics.

HERE is the complete list of all of the members of the Kansas House of Representatives with links to their email accounts. Please send them an email or preferably, pick up the phone and give them a call... Tell them your name, your address, and your story. And most importantly, tell them to VOTE NO on HCR 5032 (the Kansas Health Care "Freedom" Amendment)

• Let them know that we ARE the people, and that we are in need of serious Reform, NOT political gamesmanship.
• Let them know that being a 'good soldier' for the party won't do a thing for those suffering with pre-existing conditions.
• Let them know that political grandstanding and rhetorical 'odes to freedom' might move the party loyalists, but it does nothing to help seniors trying to afford their prescriptions.
• Let them know that "Tea-Party style" rants against the Government might help position them for their next big election or appointment, but it does nothing to help the 4,100 Kansas Families who declare bankruptcy every year due to medical debt.
• And let them know that the Status Quo simply won't work anymore. We can no longer afford the cost of doing nothing, and that's a fact that all the patriotic prose in the world can not hide.

And when they tell you that we here in Kansas should work out our own Health Care reform plan, gently remind them that Kansas is the Reddest of Red States, and that if our legislators were serious about reform, they could have accomplished it at any time: BUT THEY HAVE NEVER TAKEN UP THE CAUSE. To come along now, on the cusp of real reform, to say nothing but 'Stop, lets try and figure out a different way', when you could have addressed the problem anytime you wanted, is disingenuous and nonsensical.

Enough with the games.
Enough with the grandstanding.
Enough with the rhetoric.
We need reform now.
We need them to VOTE NO on HCR5032

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Legislators finally acknowledge the proposed "Kansas Health Care Freedom" Amendment is really an attempt to block Health Care Reform

After weeks of misleading and disingenuous statements to the contrary, Kansas legislators have now offered statements acknowledging that the proposed Kansas "Health Care Freedom" Amendment is really a device intended to block Federal Health Care Reform efforts.

Senator Jim Barnett of Emporia, Chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare committee, today issued a statement which read in part: "The Healthcare Freedom Amendment will help protect the people of Kansas from the disastrous results of the proposed healthcare bill that Washington, DC intends to force upon us." 

That statement contradicts earlier statements by Senator Mary Pilcher-Cook who repeatedly stated to media outlets, that this bill was not about opting out or blocking health care reform. The language is particularly curious when you consider there is still no single reconciled bill being pushed by the Federal Government. The House and Senate bills still need to be reconciled and debated and worked before they reach a single final form for our consideration. But that's no problem; THIS effort and THESE Legislators, don't need an actual "bill" to oppose -- They just oppose the Federal Government and Anything that comes from the Federal Government will be wrong by them.

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee passed the bill out by voice vote but without a recommendation. It will now head to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

If enacted the Kansas "Health Care Freedom Amendment" would prohibit the subsequent enactment of Federal Health Care reform legislation.

The Kansas State Conference will hold a Press Conference on Wednesday the 24th at 3PM in the Docking State Office Building (915 SW Harrison St., Topeka KS) to discuss our opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment and to lend our support to SB 375 which would abolish the Death Penalty in Kansas and replace it with life in prison.

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Share YOUR Health Care stories!!!

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250 runners turn out for the 6th Annual Umoja 5K Run/Walk

The 6th annual Umoja 5K (8/29) was a great success. More than 250 people turned out to participate in this year's event. Teams representing Holy Savior, Via Christi, the Links, Tabernacle Bible Church, and many others also came out to run/walk together.

This year, several of the sponsoring organizations (including the Wichita NAACP) donated funds to sponsor Youth participation in the event with the goal of addressing the issue of childhood obesity. Approximately 50 youth participated in the timed event.

This year, in partnership with the American Heart Association, we also distributed information on the "Power to End Stroke" campaign, with healthy cookbooks  and tons of information on how people could reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. More than 80 signed pledge cards were collected at the event.

Special thanks goes out Brenda Davis and Maryon Habtemarian who came together once again and put on a first class event for the community...

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Join the "Power to End Stroke" Campaign

The Wichita Branch NAACP has partnered with the American Heart Association and the Wichita Black Nurses Association in the 'Power to End Stroke' Campaign.

'Power To End Stroke' is an education and awareness campaign that embraces and celebrates the culture, energy, creativity and lifestyles of Americans. It unites people to help make an impact on the high incidence of stroke within their communities.

Power To End Stroke was created in 2006 by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association to help reach the ASA mission to reduce stroke and risk of stroke by 25% by 2010. It was also meant to raise critical awareness within the African American population. Heart disease and stroke are major health risks for all people, but African Americans are at particularly high risk. Consider this:

• Blacks have almost twice the risk of first-ever strokes compared to whites.
• Blacks have higher death rates for stroke compared to whites.
• The prevalence of high blood pressure in African Americans in the United States is the highest in the world.

To take the pledge and join the Power to End Stroke movement, visit the link on our header.

Sign up and join the cause today!

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A Detailed examination of Health Care Reform myths - with references

Special Thanks to Ron Myles for compiling this list...

PG 22 of the HC Bill mandates the Govt will audit books of all employers that self insure.

The government(Federal and State) already has the authority to audit any and all books of any employer paying into any tax fund.) The bill does not mandate blanket audits, it expands the currently existing authority.

PG 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - There will be a Government Committee that decides what treatments/benefits you receive.

(For exceptional cases, a panel of BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS will make recommendations for treatment. The FINAL decision will rest with the patient and patient family and the attending physician(s).)

PG 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill - Your HealthCare is Rationed. You can only receive a certain amount of "care" per year.

(There is no limit to the amount of coverage that you will receive under the proposed health care plan, however to prevent fraud and abuse, multiple claims for the same treatment will be monitored and require explanation. This is currently done with ALL HEALTHCARE insurance systems.)

PG 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice.

(Applicants will be given a series of health care providers to chose from. Those health care plans approved for use will have been evaluated as meeting the greatest needs of the public at the most effective cost.)

PG 50 Section 152 in HC bill - HC will be provided to ALL non US residents, illegal or otherwise

(CURRENTLY, a medical facility can NOT refuse emergency treatment to anyone and currently those individuals being treated do not have to provide identification to prove citizenship. The proposed plan will provide the treatment, BUT the proper authorities will be notified of the individual if they are in an illegal status.)

PG 58HC Bill - Govt will have real-time access to individuals finances & a National ID Health Card will be issued.

(There are no provisions in the proposed bill that proposes for the government to have "real-time" access to anyone's finances and there is no current technology that would provide that capabilities to the government. The proposed bill does provide for a National Health Care ID card, similar to CURRENT national health care cards for BC/BS, Aetna, CompuCare, etc.)

PG 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 Govt will have direct access to your banks accts for funds transfer.

(There are no provisions for the government to have direct access to anyone's bank account.)

PG 72 Lines 8-14 Govt is creating an HC Exchange to bring private HealthCare plans under Government control.

(The proposed plan will establish standards and regulations, for medical care provided to the American people, under which all health care provides will be required to conform. Those health care providers who chose not to conform will simply not be on the government provided list available to the American people.)

PG 84 Sec 203 HC bill - Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HealthCare plans in the Exchange

(This is not true. Private health care plans can operate, but they will not receive government funds. They will receive payments for EMERGENCY treatment provided to those covered under the government plan. This is a current practice of all PRIVATE health care plans)

PG 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specifies Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare.

(Again NOT TRUE SEE ABOVE Pg 29 lines 4-16 in the HC )

PG 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill - Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services...... Example - Translation for illegal aliens

(This will provide, but not mandate, that efforts will be made to provide interpreters for non-English speaking patients to improve diagnostics of patient complaints. This is currently a practice of all HIGH quality hospitals and major medical facilities)

PG 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individually for Govt HealthCare plan

(The government may use what ever resources available to get the major task of enrollment done. The significance of ACORN or Americorps, or any other contracted service group, is not relevant, what is important is getting the job done expediently.)

PG 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specs of Benefit Levels for Plans. #AARP members - your Health care WILL be rationed

(AGAIN NOT TRUE SEE ABOVE Pg 29 . And one note AARP does not provide health care or any insurance directly. It uses Hartford and other insurance company.)

PG 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill - Medicaid Eligible Indiv. will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.

(This is a much needed service. Many qualified individuals are not aware of Medicaid part B, which would relieve them of the burdensome cost of prescription drugs. Individuals would have the choice of rather they use this service or not. This would be an excellent service to the American people.)

PG 124 lines 24-25 HC No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No "judicial review" against Govt monopoly.

(That is the way health care should be. "PRICE FIXING" is a term intended to mislead people. TVA (True Value Assessment) is the payment offered for services that is based on a fair cost and reasonable profit determined by actual value assessment. Once established the payment is FIXED and may not be exceeded except for extenuating circumstances.)

PG 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill - Doctors/ #AMA - The Govt will tell you what you can make.

(THIS IS NOT TRUE -- The Government will tell you WHAT THEY WILL PAY FOR YOUR SERVICES)

PG 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public option plan.

(True: As a payroll deduction. Just like income taxes, etc. Prevents the employee from having to deal with it.)

PG 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.

(TRUE Just as they currently have to pay for workman's comp for part time employees.)

PG 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer with a payroll 400k & above who does not prov. public option, pays 8% tax on all payroll

(And?)

PG 150 Lines 9-13 Businesses with payroll between 251k & 400k that don't prov. pub. opt pay 2-6% tax on all payroll

(And?)

PG 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn't have acceptable HealthCare according to the Govt will be taxed 2.5%

(True and they will be covered on the government plan. Every American citizen will be covered with quality Health Care))

PG 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill, Any Nonresident Alien is exempt from individual taxes; American taxpayers will pay for them

(This is the CURRENT policy)

PG 195 HC Bill -officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial/personal records

(THIS IS NOT TRUE. There is no current technology that would provide that capabilities to the government.)

PG 203 Line 14-15 HC - "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax"

(It will be treated as an entitlement fund, similar to Social Security)

PG 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill, Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor will be very affected

(NOT TRUE: The government will more closely monitor the payments made and take corrective action if and when required.)

PG 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill - Doctors, regardless of specialty, will all be paid the same

(NOT TRUE AT ALL. Payments will be made bases on level of difficulty, i.e. specialty, and other factors. Additional payment will be made based on extended expertise. THE SAME AS CURRENT PAY FOR: Public Health Service doctors.)

PG 253 Line 10-18 Govt sets value of Dr's time, professional judgments, etc.

(NOT TRUE. Participating doctors will be paid based on TVA. TVA (True Value Assessment) is the payment offered for services that is based on a fair cost and reasonable profit determined by actual value assessment. Once established the payment is FIXED and may not be exceeded except for extenuating circumstances.)

PG 265 Sec 1131, Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries

(THIS STATEMENT IS INTENDED TO MISLEAD OR DECEIVE. What productivity does the health care industry provide?) The health care industries provide a SERVICE not a product.

PG 268 Sec 1141 Fed Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs

(GOOD)

PG 280 Sec 1151 The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems preventable re-admissions.

(THIS IS TRUE, and it will reduce the hospital's overall malpractice insurance cost. And reduce the huge costs of law suites against doctors and health care providing facilities.)

PG 317 L 13-20 PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own.

(THIS IS A HUGE LIE The proposal would regulate self-serving investments of PARTICIPATING physicians.) (A doctor who treats LUNG CANCER should not own stock in a tobacco company.)

PG 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3 PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand

(THIS IS NOT TRUE)

PG 321 2-13 Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input required.

(True and this should be the case. The people should have a say.)

PG 335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339 - Govt mandates establishments of outcome based measures.. Rationing

(NOT TRUE AS STATED.)

PG 341 Lines 3-9 Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Adv Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing all into Govt HC plan

(NO medical facility will be FORCED into participating, but once accepted they will have to conform to regulations. If they do not, they can be put on an improvement plan or expelled from the participating program.)

PG 354 Sec 1177 - Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs

(NOT TRUE)

PG 379 Sec 1191 Govt creates Telehealth Advisory Committee. HealthCare by phone

(Currently BC/BS, Aetna, and other HC plans have such a service. It is a GOOD service.)

PG 425 Lines 17-19 Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of atty.

(The Government will provide payment and reimbursement for end of life consultations)

PG 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 Govt provides apprvd list of end of life resources, guiding you in death

(TRUE. A list of APPROVED participants in the Public Health Care Program)

PG 427 Lines 15-24 Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends.

(NOT TRUE. Government payments may be suspended if there is no indication by BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS that the dying patient can be expected to recover.)

PG 429 Lines 10-12 "advanced care consultations" may include an ORDER for end of life plans.

(NOT TRUE. Government payments may be suspended if there is no indication by BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS that the dying patient can be expected to recover.)

PG 429 Lines 13-25 - The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.

(NOT TRUE. Government payments may be suspended if there is no indication by BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS that the dying patient can be expected to recover.)

PG 430 Lines 11-15 The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life

(NOT TRUE. Government payments may be suspended if there is no indication by BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS that the dying patient can be expected to recover.)

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The US Commission on Civil Rights calls the Health care reform bill Discriminatory

At issue are legislative efforts to address Health Disparities...

As early as 2007, I began writing about the US Commission on Civil Rights and their tragic decline from a once powerful fact-finding and investigative agency into an ironic caricature of its former self. ( See HERE and see HERE) Through a series of Bush-era politically motivated appointments, the 8-member Commission is now composed of 6 conservatives who are ideologically opposed to the goals and precepts of the American Civil Rights movement.

The Agency that once challenged the Federal Government and Law Enforcement to constructively deal with issues of Voter disenfranchisement, Domestic Violence, and the excesses and abuses of the Criminal Justice System, has been turned on its head. It has spent most of the last few years investigating the effectiveness of HBCU's, developing guidance for school districts to achieve 'Unitary Status' and end their deseg programs, attacking affirmative action, and most recently formally opposing the employee free choice act.

In 2007, the conservative majority on the Commission released a Briefing Report on school segregation which essentially stated that the DOJ should continue in their efforts to assist districts in achieving 'unitary status' wherein they'd be free from the strictures of Brown vs Board or previous court orders brought about through civil rights or discrimination lawsuits. The two dissenting Commissioners, Yaki and Melendez, released a statement in which they wrote, "The quality of the agency’s reports has declined because it has tried to do too much with too little. Hour-and-a-half long monthly (or sometimes bimonthly) briefings with a few guest speakers can at best do nothing more than recycle commonly known truths about civil rights problems. At worst, such briefings serve as thinly-veiled political cover for the Commission majority to issue ideological policy statements to influence pending legislation, administrative decisions or reviews, and judicial cases. It is shameful to trade on the Commission’s past reputation for quality work in this way."

Well, now it seems they're at it again. This time, the US Commission on Civil Rights is releasing a new Briefing report in which they attack the proposed Health Care Reform efforts as 'racially discriminatory' because several of the draft bills being floated around Congress have provisions to specifically address Health Disparities. The conservative majority on the US Commission on Civil Rights views any effort to address issues within a specific racial or ethnic group as a "race-based" remedy and therefore deems said efforts as preferential to those they seek to address.

African Americans have the shortest life expectancy of any racial or ethnic group in America. African Americans have statistically higher rates of hypertension, stroke, diabetes, HIV, perinatal diseases, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, SIDS, low birth weight babies, etc... YET health care Access as a Civil Right has never come up on the Commission's radar. But the fact that draft versions of a Health Care reform bill would seek to address these issues by promoting and encouraging 'cultural competency' among health care providers has managed to summon the Commission into action.

The provision that has raised their ire reads in part:

The secretary, "shall design and implement the payment mechanisms and policies under this section in a manner that — (1) seeks to reduce health disparities (including racial, ethnic and other disparities)." (House Bill Section 224)

The notion that targeted spending is inherently discriminatory is simply false. The GI bill is not 'discriminatory' against non-veterans. Social Security is not 'discriminatory' against the young. Breast Cancer research is not 'discriminatory' against men. Prostate Cancer research is not 'discriminatory' against women... We as a nation have often tended to issues that have some disparate impact on one or more segments of our society. And in a matter as sensitive as health care and health dispaities; one where the disparities are literally matters of life and death; we should expect no less...

Wade Henderson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Leadership Council on Civil Rights described this recent effort by saying, "The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is overstepping its bounds yet again with another slanted and incorrect interpretation of logical and constitutional standards,". The group is "injecting themselves in the health care debate without any expertise and understanding of how the training in the House bill will work."

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Health Care Reform in America and the Fierce Urgency of Now...

Guest Posted by Roslyn Brock; NAACP Vice-Chair and Director of Advocacy and Public Policy for Bon Secours Health Systems...

Over the past several days, I’ve had the most unsettling discussions around health care reform in my entire health policy career. Last Sunday, I spent the afternoon visiting with my uncle who was recovering from knee replacement. My aunt shared with me her dismay with the health care delivery system when upon admittance to the hospital, the attendant immediately asked for $2,400 to pay her portion of the hospital bill. Keep in mind, payment was requested before any services were rendered. Over the weekend, two young boys and their little sister all under 12 years of age from my neighborhood rushed up to me and hastily began a conversation: “We need some money, my dad had to go to the emergency room yesterday and we need money right away to pay for his hospital bill. Can you help us?” They opened a little red and white canister filled with juice packs on ice and asked for a dollar. I was flabbergasted and thought could this be the future of health care in America where children have to beg for money to pay for the rising cost of health care?

Today, during lunch a small business owner lamented how the rising costs of health care for him and his pregnant wife would ultimately cause him to close his business. These distinct encounters are a microcosm of how health care is lived in America.

Reforming the nation’s health care system by expanding access to consistent, high quality and affordable healthcare coverage is a critical issue for all Americans and in particular for African Americans when you consider the fact that over 7 million of the more than 46 million uninsured people in the U.S. are African- American, according to the Census Bureau. The poor economy further exacerbates this problem by putting more people out of work and out of insurance. The recession has driven the rate of unemployment among African Americans to 15 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As Congress considers fundamental health care reform, now is the time to ensure the delivery of quality, cost-effective care for minorities and other under-served populations, and to implement measures that improve cultural competency, eliminate barriers to health care, and build a more diverse health care workforce.

A comprehensive health care reform bill must cover all Americans. The White House proposes a public option plan that provides a range of insurance choices for the uninsured. The creation of this plan will not impact those who are currently insured. The biggest fear being promulgated by those in power is that expanded insurance coverage for the poor, vulnerable, immigrants, minorities and small businesses will in some way reduce current options provided to those currently insured. This is simply not true. In the current environment with more than 46 million uninsured, we’ve seen the result of inaction as evidenced by lost benefits, increased premiums and reduced wages. Basic and expanded preventive health care costs over time will stabilize and ultimately decrease because of improved health status and better decision making for accessing care by those who need it most.

President Obama cannot carry the health care reform message alone. Concerned citizens from all walks of life must be moved to action and visit, call and write congressional leaders today urging them to work decisively to achieve comprehensive health care reform without delay. We must speak now and act now with a unified voice for the common good. We need health care reform and we need it now.


Roslyn M. Brock is vice chairwoman of the NAACP National Board of Directors and Director of Advocacy and Public Policy for Bon Secours Health System in Marriottsville, Md.

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NAACP joins with a coalition of more than 20 Organizations calling on President Obama to address Health Disparities

On Monday, May 4th, the NAACP joined more than 20 national organizations in signing a letter urging the President and Congress to address the health disparities gap for racial and ethnic minorities as part of comprehensive health reform. Among other priorities, the group said health reform should improve incentives, resources and data collection to eliminate disparities in care for minority populations; increase the number of nurses, doctors, dentists, mental health practitioners and other caregivers in minority and underserved communities; and provide coverage and access to care for all, resources to address the factors that contribute to the disparities gap, and training to help health care providers deliver culturally competent care. The cited priorities grew out of the American Hospital Association's Special Advisory Group on Improving Hospital Care for Minorities. “Every day, hospitals care for increasingly diverse communities and patients,” said AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock. “Finding ways to eliminate the gaps in access to care and quality of care for minorities is a key component to health care reform and we’re pleased to help lead this important discussion.”

Click HERE to read the coalition's letter to President Obama... 

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Register Now for the 4th Annual KDHE Center for Health Disparities Conference

"Building Partnerships to Wellness"

On April 6th and 7th, The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will convene its 4th Annual Health Disparities Conference in Topeka Kansas.

Click HERE to download the full Conference Brochure and Registration form

Conference Objectives:

• Describe the complex social, behavioral and medical determinants of health which will enable participants to understand the impact of health and health care disparities within a population.
  
• Discuss the statistics and epidemiology of health and healthcare disparities among racial, ethnic and tribal communities in Kansas.
  
• Identify and clarify the role of the public health community in addressing health disparities.
  
• Identify the importance of a multi-sectoral approach in addressing the impact of social determinants of health and the elimination of health and healthcare disparities.
  
• Identify evidenced based prevention/intervention strategies and approaches that will result in systematic changes to the public health problem of health disparities.
  
• Facilitate community based and public/private partnerships to improve the health and well being of our communities.
  
• Explore multidimensional markets that impact community health, knowledge and economic development.
  

Presentation Descriptions

Health Access Project
Presenters: Roderick Harris, Director, Center for Health Equity, Sedgwick County Health Department
According to the Kansas Health Insurance Survey, approximately 11.5% (approximately 55,000) of Sedgwick County residents are uninsured. The impact of this problem does not just affect those individuals; it affects individuals, businesses and the entire health care system. This session will describe how the Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners initiated a community dialogue to research the problem and look for possible solutions to decrease the barriers citizens have to health care access. Three main barriers emerged: Coverage, System Coordination and System Navigation. The Health Access Project was initiated with working groups created to work on solutions to each of the identified system barriers.


Addressing Health Disparities through Community Partnership: Latino Health for All
Presenters: Paula Cupertino, University of Kansas Medical Center, Jerry Schultz, University of Kansas - Lawrence, Zora Pace, University of Kansas – Lawrence, Dan Schober, University of Kansas – Lawrence, Susan Garrett, University of Kansas Medical Center, Blanca Mendoza University of Kansas – Lawrence, and Stephen Fawcett, University of Kansas - Lawrence
In Fall 2008, the Latino Health for All Partnership began its work of collaborative action to create conditions that promote healthy living within the Latino community of Wyandotte County. The Latino Health for All Partnership’s mission is: To reduce diabetes and cardiovascular diseases among Latinos in Kansas City/Wyandotte County through a collaborative partnership to promote healthy nutrition, physical activity, and access to health services. This session will describe how the partnership has engaged over 40 individuals representing key organizations across diverse sectors including those in health and human service organizations, media, schools, faith communities, and government. Currently, the Partnership’s efforts are focused on the 66101 zip code (Strawberry Hill neighborhood) of Wyandotte County/Kansas City. Together they developed a list of strategic action steps to address disparities in physical activity, nutrition and access to health. The Latino Health for All Partnership has formed three Action Committees, each charged with planning and implementing social/ environmental changes to address one of the group’s priority goals.

Engaging Health, Education & Philanthropy to Improve Children’s Oral Health
Presenters: Dawn Downes, Project Director, REACH Healthcare Foundation
Two Kansas City regional health foundations approached dental, medical and early childhood leaders to enlist their involvement in developing an initiative to increase the number of children who arrive at kindergarten with healthy mouths. The 18-month planning process produced Project Ready Smile, an initiative being implemented in Allen, Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and in three counties in Missouri. This session will discuss Project Ready Smile. The primary goal is to reduce oral disease in young children; secondary goals are to connect poor children with a dental home, encourage dentists to serve low-income children, and instill good oral health habits early.

Cancer-Related Health Disparities in Kansas: An Overview
Presenters: Henri Ménager, Cancer Epidemiologist, KDHE
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Kansas accounting for 22% of all deaths occurred in 2007. The cause-specific death rate for cancer adjusted for age was for that year 193.7/100,000 people. The burden of cancer is unequally distributed among population subgroups. Among those groups most affected by excess of morbidity and mortality from cancer were men and African-Americans. Lack of access to care, cultural and social barriers have been identified as the root causes of these health disparities. This presentation will present an overview of the current cancer morbidity and mortality rates in Kansas stratified by various demographic characteristics with emphasis on the health disparities. Prevention and screening data from the Early Detection Works program will also be discussed.

Living on the Edge: A Poverty Simulation
Presenters: Andres Dominguez, Program Officer, Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Linda Grier, Executive Office Manager, Northeast Kansas Community Action Program, Inc.
Gary Brunk, President and CEO, Kansas Action for Children (invited)
What would happen if a car accident or a lay-off left you without a job and resources? Can you survive a month in poverty? 32.9 million Americans live in poverty each day. It is difficult at times to truly understand the situations that families living in poverty experience every day. We invite you to walk a mile in the shoes of those facing poverty by participating in a community action poverty simulation. This experience provides participants with the opportunity to assume the role of a low-income family member living on a limited budget. The experience is divided into four, 15 minute sessions, each of which represents one week in which you must provide for your family and maintain your home. The session will dramatically demonstrate how much time and energy many families have to give just to survive day by day in poverty. The simulation will be followed by a facilitated discussion about public- policy initiatives and what our communities can do to address poverty and improve the health of our residents. Individuals will need to participate in both sessions.

Promotores De Salud
Presenters: Emily Bullard, National Cancer Institute Cancer Information Service, Cielo Fernandez-Ortega, El Centro, & Aura Morgan, Instructor, University of Kansas Medical Center
The population in Kansas is becoming increasingly diverse. Latinos are the fastest growing minority group. Between 2000 and 2005, Latinos increased threefold from 63,339 to 228,250 becoming the largest ethnic minority group in the state. However, Latinos are less likely than white non-Hispanics to have access to healthcare, to have health insurance, to have knowledge of existing health resources, to receive advice about healthy behaviors, to participate in health promotion programs, or to utilize evidence-based treatment. The use of community health educators or "promotores de salud" is one approach to eliminate health disparities. Promotores de Salud have been used for decades in underserved population and rural communities to improve health behaviors and connect people to the health care system. This approach has the natural ability to reach others with culturally sensitive methods, tailoring their messages to the special needs of the community. The goal of this presentation is to describe the implementation of a promotores de salud program in a community based social service agency. We will also describe a culturally and linguistically appropriate health promotion training for the Promotores de Salud based on Paulo Freire's model of “Popular Education”. Finally, we will describe health activities implemented by promotores de salud including 1) community needs assessment, 2) health events and 3) smoking cessation.

Community Themes and strengths assessment: Utilizing MAPP to assess quality of life using on-line survey methods
Presenter: Sonja Armbruster, Community Health Assessment Coordinator, Sedgwick County Health Department
MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships) is a strategic approach to community health improvement. Community Themes and Strengths Assessment (CTSA) is one of four MAPP assessments which asks: How is quality of life perceived in our community? This session will look at the Methods for the CTSA and the results.

Unnatural Causes Screening, Episode 1
Facilitator: Roderick Harris, Director, Center for Health Equity, Sedgwick County Health Department
UNNATURAL CAUSES is a documentary produced by California Newsreel that explores how population health is shaped by the social and economic conditions in which we are born, live and work. This session will include a screening of Episode 1 (In sickness and in wealth) and a facilitated discussion around the issues raised.

Preventive Health Care Services: Unequal Care for Kansans with Disabilities.
Presenters: Amanda Reichard, KU Research and Training Center on Independent Living, and Jamie Simpson, MSEDisability Program Coordinator, KDHE
The primary purpose of this session is to provide participants with an understanding of the preventive screening and preventive health care utilization patterns of individuals with physical disabilities supported by Home and Community Based Services waiver in Kansas and Kansans with disabilities through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. This session will also suggest methods for increasing the utilization rates for preventive screenings and preventive health services.

Bridging the Gap
Presenters: Cathy Anderson, Jewish Vocational Services
This session will focus on the lessons learned from the experiences in the Bridging the Gap training in Kansas (including the cultural competency training) and briefly mention the efforts to create national certification.

Unnatural Causes Screening, Episodes 2 & 3
Facilitator: Roderick Harris, Director, Center for Health Equity, Sedgwick County Health Department
UNNATURAL CAUSES is a documentary produced by California Newsreel that explores how population health is shaped by the social and economic conditions in which we are born, live and work. This session will include a screening of Episode 2 (When the Bough Breaks), Episode 3 (Becoming American) and a facilitated discussion around the issues raised.

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The Wichita NAACP 2008 Year End report is now available

The 2008 Year End report for the Wichita Branch NAACP, detailing branch activities in the areas of Education, Civil Rights Enforcement, Voter Empowerment, Community Empowerment, Legal Redress, Health, Branch Administration, and Advocacy Training, is now available to the public.

CLICK HERE for a copy of the 2008 Year End Report  

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The struggle to fight HIV/AIDS must continue

On this 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, the NAACP reminds all that every 12 seconds someone contracts HIV. Every 16 seconds someone dies from AIDS. Since its onset, more than 2 million worldwide have died. These alarming figures take on greater significance as the disease disproportionately impacts blacks above all other groups.

"It is vitally important that African Americans unify to eradicate the spread of HIV/AIDS and advocate for policies that assist those most impacted," said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. "We must stand together to keep the issue of AIDS at the top of the political agenda and demand funding for treatment, education and prevention at home and abroad. Furthermore, we must make the commitment to change the behaviors that continue to put our community at the greatest risk."

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) the proportion of HIV/AIDS infections in the African American community approximately doubled between 1985 and 2006, with black women representing 67 percent of female AIDS cases and black teens making up two-thirds of new infections in their age group. Once testing positive, African Americans are seven times more likely to die from the disease than whites.

On the international front, the AIDS epidemic continues to rage on in Africa. According to the World Health Organization, the continent of Africa is home to approximately 11 percent of the world's population but has approximately 60 percent of all of the world's people living with HIV infection.

Recognizing the need to address this crisis, the NAACP has worked to break the silence surrounding HIV/AIDS in the Black community. These efforts include holding marches, producing educational films, reports, public testing of NAACP leaders as well as training by an array of experts in the field. Internationally, the NAACP has worked to shed light on the vicious use of rape as a tool of war in the Congo. Since 1997 the NAACP has passed several resolutions that call for eliminating racial disparities in our nation's approach to the AIDS epidemic in order to abolish the disproportionate incidences and deaths of African Americans.

"Black America must eliminate the homophobia from our culture that is perhaps the single greatest barrier to our ability to talk about AIDS," said Willis Edwards, NAACP National Board member and vice chair of the HIV/AIDS subcommittee of the NAACP Health Committee. "Everyone in the African American community must be educated and get tested, no matter who they are or what they think. We call on all leaders and activists to stand up against this virus that is killing us in our silence and complacency."


Established by the World Health Organization in 1988, World AIDS Day, observed annually on Dec. 1, serves to focus global attention on the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

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Black Journalists To Host National Conference On Health Disparities

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The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) will present its Conference on Health Disparities on January 30-31, 2009 at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. This conference is part of the NABJ Media Institute's professional development program to better train journalists on the increasing number of health disparities in the black community and to help empower their newsrooms toward increased coverage.

"This is the first time NABJ is committing to programming that deals solely with the health of the black community," said NABJ President, Barbara Ciara. "It is our responsibility as journalists of color to bring stories of awareness, prevention and recovery to our newsrooms."

This two-day event is for journalists and media professionals who want to better report on health disparities that contribute to the high mortality rates in the black community. Issues covered include communities of color disparate representation in clinical trials, the low rate of mental health treatment in African Americans and the high rate of obesity, heart disease and strokes.

"We're gathering the best and brightest in medicine, research and advocacy to provide black journalists with the necessary tools to reach our community," said Kathy Times, NABJ vice-president-broadcast and chair of the NABJ Media Institute. Symposia also will focus on health care policy, HIV/AIDS, low-birth weights, heart disease and the inadequate treatment of prisoners in incarceration and the effect on communities of color once they are released.

Invited presenters include former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, Dr. Kevin Fenton of the Centers for Disease Control, Phil Wilson of the Black AIDS Institute, and Marian Wright Edelman of the Children's Defense Fund. The conference is sponsored by The Shering-Plough Corporation, Morehouse School of Medicine and the Kellogg Foundation.

The NABJ Media Institute offers professional development opportunities, technical training, historical documentation, educational programs, conferences, workshops, entrepreneurial guidance as well as web seminars that consist of quality content and it provides resources for students and journalists of color, relating to the industry.

The Institute also seeks to teach, compile, disseminate and chronicle information about African Americans in the field of journalism, and it acts as a clearinghouse for information to entities interested in the media and in establishing a connection with black journalists.

An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation, with over 4,100 members, and provides educational, career development and support to black journalists worldwide.

Tech Tags: Health+Disparities Healthcare NABJ

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"Community on the Move" No Cost Health Seminar

On Saturday, September 20th, the Center for Health and Wellness will sponsor the "Community on the Move!!" No Cost Health Seminar. The Seminar is open to the public and participants are encouraged to call and pre-register...

The presenters at the seminar will be the Co-Directors of the Gaston and Porter Health Improvement Center, Drs. Marilyn Gaston and Gayle Porter. Drs. Gaston and Porter have each spent their careers trying to improve the emotional and physical health of children, adults and families, especially those who are poor, minority and underserved. They have provided: direct clinical services; organized and developed systems of care; provided educational programs; directed health care programs; conducted research; and trained students and health care providers. Both are recognized nationally and internationally for their efforts and are frequently sought after speakers on effective and evidenced based health care and disparities.

Drs. Porter and Gaston are the authors of "Prime Time: The African American Woman's Complete Guide to Midlife Health and Wellness"

Seminar details:
Wichita Hyatt Regency
400 W. Waterman
Wichita, KS 67202

September 20, 2008
8:30AM

To Pre-Register call
(316) 612-6892 or (316) 612-6888

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The Wichita NAACP becomes an Alliance partner with the AHA in the 'Power to End Stroke' Campaign

The Director of Cultural Health Initiatives for the American Heart Association, Karlease Bradford, stopped by our branch offices this evening with new materials and information on the Power to End Stroke Campaign. The following is a guest post from Karlese Bradford:

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Heart Disease and Stroke are the #1 and #3 killers in America killing more people than the next seven causes combined. We all know people, family members and friends who have heart disease and or have had a stroke because minority populations have higher rates of chronic diseases and the risk factors for these diseases. African-Americans die at a rate of almost twice that of Whites and according to the CDC African-Americans between the ages of 35 and 54 have four times the risk of a first time stroke. Heredity plays a part in our health but social determinants play larger a factor in these disparities. Our income determines where we live, what we eat, and our access to health care.
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As the Kansas Director of Cultural Health Initiatives for the American Heart Association it is my job to educate people in the community on ways to reduce their risks of heart disease and stroke. Tobacco use, lack of physical activity and poor nutrition are the main culprits. We need to take better care of ourselves, know our risks and recognize the warning signs of stroke. Please join me in the American Heart Association’s campaign to end stroke. The Power to End Stroke campaign was developed to help the African-American community reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Stop by the Wichita NAACP office and sign a pledge that says you will not just survive but strive to live longer and healthier. For more information go to http://www.heartsmarts.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3056121

If you would like to become an Ambassador for the Power to End Stroke contact me at 913-652-1930 or Karlease.bradford@heart.org


Karlease Bradford
Director, Cultural Health Initiatives - Kansas American Heart Association
Midwest Affiliate
6800 W. 93rd St
Overland Park, KS 66212
Tel.: 913-652-1930
Fax: 913-648-0423
karlease.bradford@heart.orghttp://www.americanheart.org/

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Kaiser Foundation webcast on Health Disparities

On Friday, December 14th, The Kaiser Family Foundation will host a live, interactive webcast on current federal legislative efforts to address health disparities between racial and ethnic groups, and the factors that may influence the outcome of these efforts.

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm?display=detail&hc=2448

Kaiser Family Foundation Broadcast Studio, Washington, D.C.

** This LIVE webcast begins at 9 a.m. ET on Friday, December 14, 2007 **

** A videolink will be posted approximately 20 minutes before the show
begins. If you do not see one by that time, please refresh your Internet
browser.

HOW:
Join the live webcast at www.kaisernetwork.org/todaystopics/14dec07

Email a question for the panel to TodaysTopics@kaisernetwork.org in advance or during the webcast.

Don't know how to view a LIVE webcast? Please consult their FAQ section.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_howto_view.cfm


Speakers for this session:
Marsha Lillie-Blanton, Dr.PH., Senior Advisor, Race, Ethnicity and Health
Care, Kaiser Family Foundation
Co-Moderator

David Satcher, M.D. Ph.D., Director, Satcher Health Leadership Institute,
Morehouse School of Medicine
Former U.S. Surgeon General

Cara James, Ph.D., Senior Policy Analyst, Race/Ethnicity & Health Care,
Kaiser Family Foundation
Co-Moderator

Garth Graham, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Minority Health
Department of Health and Human Services

Dora Hughes, M.D., Health and Education Policy Advisor for Sen. Barack Obama
(D-Ill.)

Sean McCluskie, Legislative Director for Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.)

Tech Tags: Health, Health+Disparities, Current+Events

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