Minority communities suffer disproportionately from many severe health problems and have higher mortality rates than whites for many treatable health conditions. Over the past few decades, we have made great advances as a nation in science and medicine. However, all of our citizens have not shared in the benefits of these advances. We have not made the commitment necessary to understanding the genetic and behavioral differences that affect health outcomes. In addition, recent studies show that bias in the health care system is another factor in racial and ethnic health disparities.

In an effort to address these inequities in health care, I am part of a group of House members who have introduced the Health Care Fairness Act (H.R. 3250). This is a comprehensive bi-partisan minority health care bill with over 61 cosponsors including Reps. J.C. Watts, Sherrod Brown, Charlie Norwood and Pete Stark. This bill will increase the federal commitment to biomedical research on minority health, improve data collection on minorities, and implement demonstration projects that address bias in the health care system. The Health Care Fairness Act will establish pilot projects in medical schools to develop educational tools that will reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. H.R. 3250 will elevate the Office of Research on Minority Health to a Center for Research on Minority Health at NIH. In addition, this legislation will create a new Center of Excellence for Research on Minority Health Disparities and Training. These changes will increase our knowledge of the nature and causes of these disparities, and improve the quality and outcomes of health care services for minority populations.

Supported by American Hospital Association, Association of Minority Health Professions, Association of Academic Health Centers, American Academy of Physician Assistants, National Medical Association, Inter-Cultural Cancer Council, Association of Black Cardiologists, Summit Health Coalition, and Dr. Louis Sullivan (President, Morehouse Medical School and former Secretary of Health and Human Services)