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The Commonwealth Fund Project
The National Hispanic Medical Association Commonwealth Project is undertaking policy research to assist Congress in developing policy, strategies and legislation aimed at reducing the number of uninsured among the Nation's Hispanics and thereby improving the health of Hispanics. The Commonwealth Foundation and the NHMA will also issue a report on recommendations on how to improve access and affordability of health insurance focusing on Hispanic populations in the United States. According to the 2000 census, the U.S. Latino community has grown by an astonishing 58 percent to 36.3 million individuals, representing almost 12.6 percent of the U.S population. Hispanics are the largest group of uninsured in the United States. According to Commonwealth studies, two out of five Hispanics under the age of 65 are uninsured. A 2001 Census reports that up to 40% of Hispanics are foreign born and a third of Hispanics are under age 18 in comparison to the white population (23.5%). Hispanics also come from larger families and they are more likely to be unemployed and earn less when employed in comparison to non-Hispanic whites. The former are more likely to live in poverty and have less educational attainment. NHMA has begun its' policy research on the Hispanic uninsured by convening strategic planning sessions with constituent groups (advocacy groups for the uninsured, organized health providers, insurance companies). These meetings included interviews with key congressional members & their staff to include members and staff of the Congressional Health Committees & other Congressmen with an interest and history in health care & the uninsured. We are also interviewing key stakeholders from the private sector as well as the Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration. These national regional dialogues on policy and program recommendations seek to transform and eliminate the continued health care crisis experienced by Hispanics. Regional events have been held in Los Angeles, California and Atlanta, Georgia in the spring and fall of 2002. At the California symposium presenters described California's innovative programs for those without health insurance and provided strategies that the rest of the nation could emulate. During the Georgia symposium, presenters recognized the health needs of the burgeoning Hispanic population in the South and offered their strategies to develop targeted health care services. We expect to convene a congressional briefing sponsored by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to present preliminary findings on these findings. NHMA will also be publishing a Public Policy Report of research, research findings, & recommendations on the Hispanic Uninsured in America. On February 27, 2003, the Commonwealth Fund presented its most recent findings on Hispanic uninsured having a double burden, with limited English proficiency. In addition, experts from the country presented national policy options on effective model health care programs and best practices, and provided strategies to develop national health care policies for Hispanics. Lastly, recommendations were presented to NHMA to continue and develop as a lead organization for Hispanic health in Washington, DC. |
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