New Analysis of Equity Provisions in Congressional Health Proposals

Legislation is being considered in Congress to address the many woes of U.S. health care, which include rapidly escalating costs, uneven quality, and a large number of uninsured Americans.  Given the disproportionate impact of these problems on communities of color, and the greater burden of poor health and shortened lifespans among some U.S. racial and ethnic minorities, it will be important for Congress to establish equity as a key goal of any health legislation. 

To help highlight the need to address equity, The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies' Health Policy Institute, in partnership with the Drexel University School of Public Health's Center for Health Equality and Health Management Associates, is pleased to announce that we will analyze major health reform bills in the 111thCongress to assess how they will address racial and ethnic health and health care inequities. We will make these analyses available periodically throughout the health reform debate as bills are considered in relevant committees and by the full House and Senate.

Below we offer an analysis of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee's "Affordable Health Choices Act," introduced by Senator Kennedy on June 9, 2009, the House “Tri-Committee” legislation, introduced on July 14, 2009, as well as the Tri-Caucus's Health "Equity and Accountability Act".

Soon, we will post an analysis of the Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus' bill, as well as the leading Republican proposals.  Visit our website frequently to stay posted on these developments!

Recent Analysis & Publications

•   Race, Ethnicity & Health Care Reform: Achieving Equity in Our Lifetime

•   Overview of the "Affordable Health Choices Act" and the Tri-Committee legislation

•   To view analysis of the HELP Committee's "Affordable Health Choices Act", click here.

•   To view analysis of the House Tri-Committee Healthcare Reform Proposal, click here.

•   To view analysis of the Tri-Caucus' "Equity and Accountability Act", click here.

•   To view analysis of the Senate Finance Committee's "America's Health Future Act", click here.

•   To download a copy of "The Economic Burden of Health Inequalities in the United States", click here.