(Washington, DC, July 27, 2005) — Addressing the disparities in health care that continue to disproportionately affect people of color across the country regardless of social status or income, Democrats in the House and Senate are moving to introduce the Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act of 2005 before the August recess.

“The bill will be introduced in the House this evening and by all indications, it will be introduced in the Senate on Friday,” said Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust. “While it specifically addresses the needs of minorities, this bill is also an investment in the health of all of America,” Christensen said, “as it helps to contain the ever spiraling cost of care that prohibits many from living healthy lives.”

The legislation is being spearheaded by the Tri-Caucus, which consists of Members of the Black, Hispanic, Asian-Pacific Islander and Native American Caucuses, whose constituencies are most severely affected in the urban, rural, offshore and tribal communities across the country.  The legislation is a re-introduction of a similar bill introduced in the 108th Congress.  Both were aimed at:

• Expanding health coverage to include the more than 45 million Americans with health insurance, 52% of whom are minorities
• Removes language and cultural barriers experienced by 21 million people in the United States in regards to procuring quality health care
• Improves workforce diversity so that the healthcare workforce reflect, understand and respect the backgrounds, experiences and perspectives of the people it serves.
• Supports and expands programs to reduce health disparities especially diabetes, obesity, heart disease, asthma and HIV/AIDS which disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minorities.
• Improves data collection so that pertinent data on race, ethnicity, primary language and socioeconomic status are used to adequately identify, measure and find solutions for health disparities.
• Ensures accountability of the Bush administration to ensure funding of the Office of Minority Health and the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities and the important work that they do
• Ensuring the availability of medical providers in communities of color – making sure that institutions provide care and that they are located in minority communities.

“We are clear about what we need,” said Congresswoman Christensen. “As the CBC Health Braintrust has gone on the road and met with our communities, they know the problems, they have shared their ideas with us and in this legislation, we have presented a community driven solution to addressing the health care disparities that currently face us.”