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Sociologists and public health officials have long thought a ZIP code is at least as important as race, age and genetics in determining a person's health. Now, a growing body of more advanced research is bringing the issue to the forefront once again and opening up the debate about how the nation looks at health care.

In one recent study, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found racial disparities normally associated with hypertension, diabetes and obesity weren't as strong when they took into account where people lived.

The researchers looked at racially integrated, working-class neighborhoods, including in Southwest Baltimore, and found that blacks and whites had similar health outcomes. They also compared health outcomes in the neighborhoods to national health surveys. Across the country, blacks are more likely to suffer from hypertension, but when looking at the Baltimore neighborhood, the disparity declined by 29 percent. Blacks and whites in the neighborhood also showed similar odds of being obese.

Read the full article at the Baltimore Sun

The working poor, the elderly, and the middle class are at the center of the healthcare debate, yet no one seems concerned about how the Health Care Affordability Act will impact these vulnerable communities.

“Can we afford it?” often dominates the discussion. “Can we afford to live without it?” some ask, while others advocate for the repeal of the new regulation.

These vulnerable communities need the protection of health care professionals, policymakers, and the courts. On November 4, 2011, the discussion will be at the forefront of the Eighth Annual Wiley A. Branton/Howard Law Journal Symposium, Health Care Reform and Vulnerable Communities, where more than a dozen experts will convene to give voice to these vulnerable communities. This series of presentations will begin at 8:30 AM in the Moot Court Room at the Howard University School of Law.

Dr. Brian Smedley of the Joint Center's Health Policy Institute will participate in a panel entitled Falling Behind in the Race: Racial Disparities in Health Care at 2:15 PM.

For more information on the event, please visit the Howard University School of Law.

Major cuts to Medicaid would have a disproportionately harsh effect on African-Americans and Latinos, according to a new report released recently by a coalition of major health, civil rights and consumer groups.

The report, "Medicaid: A Lifeline for Blacks and Latinos with Serious Health Care Needs," reveals that making cuts to Medicaid fails to reduce costs, instead it shifts the burden to states, families, hospitals and the uninsured. In fact, in some cases, the report notes, cutting assistance for treatment can actually increase costs over the long run.

"As policymakers consider sharp cutbacks in the Medicaid program, this report brings an important potential consequence of their actions to the table – that cutting Medicaid will likely hit hardest at communities of color and, in particular, those who depend on the program to manage and treat their chronic illnesses," said Ralph B. Everett, president and CEO of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

This article was previously available at The Washington Informer.

Livable Communities: Building Connections for a Healthier Future offers an opportunity to learn about the health issues disproportionately affecting residents of HUD-assisted housing, meet practitioners who have developed effective strategies to combat poor health outcomes in their communities, and develop plans for action. This conference, held on October 20 and 21, 2011, in Center City Philadelphia is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Drexel University School of Public Health. The conference will consist of panel discussions, keynote speakers, and strategic planning sessions to discuss best practices for improving health outcomes and creating livable communities for HUD-assisted residents. The goal of the conference is to educate and empower residents of HUD-assisted housing to develop strategic plans and partnerships to combat the poor community health outcomes that hinder self-sufficiency.

Dr. Brian Smedley of the Joint Center's Health Policy Institute will be a speaker at the conference's Livable Communities Workshop on Thursday, October 20.

For more information, visit the Drexel University School of Public Health.

Cuts to Medicaid would pose a specific and dangerous threat to millions of black and Latino Americans who depend on the program for regular treatment for such medical conditions as cancer, diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart disease, and stroke. Without Medicaid, many of these seriously-ill Americans would no longer be able to fill essential prescriptions, keep up with key screenings, or see a doctor if their condition worsens or reoccurs.

The importance of Medicaid to the black and Latino communities, as well as the heavy burden of chronic disease borne by these groups, is documented in a detailed report, “Medicaid: A Lifeline for Blacks and Latinos with Serious Health Care Needs,” which was released today.

The report was released jointly by the American Diabetes Association, the American Lung Association, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the National Medical Association, the National Urban League Policy Institute, and Families USA.

Read the full story at WCTV.

WASHINGTON, DC—Major cuts to Medicaid would have a disproportionately harsh effect on black and Latino Americans, who are much more likely than others to depend on the program for regular treatment for chronic medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart disease, and stroke, according to a report released today by a broad coalition of major health, civil rights and consumer groups.

The report, Medicaid: A Lifeline for Blacks and Latinos with Serious Health Care Needs, is the first ever to reveal details on the proportion of chronically ill minority Americans who benefit from Medicaid, the state and federally funded health insurance program for low income people.  It raises concerns about reductions in Medicaid funding resulting in many seriously-ill blacks and Latinos no longer being able to fill essential prescriptions, keep up with key screenings, or see a doctor if their condition worsens or reoccurs.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies will be taking part in a number of events associated with the 139th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Public Health Association (APHA) October 29-November 2, 2011, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.  This year's APHA meeting, with the theme, "Healthy Communities Promote Healthy Minds and Bodies," takes place in the wake of the Joint Center Health Policy Institute's PLACE MATTERS National Conference, held on September 7, 2011, which addressed the relationship between place and health as it relates to racial and ethnic health inequities. You are invited to stop by the Joint Center's booth, take in one or more of several sessions where we will make presentations, and join us at a special reception.

The HPI exhibition booth will be open to visitors during the entire conference. The booth, number 2056, will be located in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Halls D and E.

Dr. Brian Smedley will be the moderator of a Oral Scientific Session Addressing Social, Health & Cultural Disparities in Community Health entitled PLACE MATTERS for Health: Using Locally-Tailored Community Health Equity Reports to Compel Action to Eliminate Health Inequities. This session will take place on Monday, October 31 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

HPI will hold a reception on Tuesday, November 1 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the Lafayette Room of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC.

Dr. Jermane Bond will make a presentation during a Poster Session on Topics in Maternal Child Health entitled Best Practices for Improving Research, Policy and Practice on Paternal Involvement in Pregnancy Outcomes. This session will take place on Wednesday, November 2 at 8:30 AM at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Halls D and E.

To RSVP for the reception or for general inquiries, please contact HPI@jointcenter.org.

Report, commissioned by the Families USA, the Joint Center Health Policy Institute and other allies, describes the likely impact on African Americans and Latinos of cuts to Medicaid, the program on which millions of low-income Americans rely. It contains state-specific data for blacks and Latinos who rely on Medicaid and suffer from chronic medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, chronic lung disease and heart disease.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies will be taking part in a number of events associated with the 139th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Public Health Association (APHA) October 29—November 2, 2011, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.  This year’s APHA meeting, with the theme, “Healthy Communities Promote Healthy Minds and Bodies,” takes place in the wake of the Joint Center Health Policy Institute’s PLACE MATTERS National Conference, held on September 7, 2011, which addressed the relationship between place and health as it relates to racial and ethnic health inequities. You are invited to stop by the Joint Center’s booth, take in one or more of several sessions where we will make presentations, and join us at a special reception.

Download the entire press release by clicking the link below.

This one day summit is a chance for Michigan residents, community stakeholders and HIV/AIDS organizations to comment on the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and it's three major goals:

1. Reducing new HIV infections;
2. Increasing access to care and improving health outcomes for people living with HIV; and
3. Reducing HIV-related health disparities

As well as a chance to comment on the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health National Partnership for Action and recommended priorities for implementation in Michigan.

Dr. Brian Smedley, Vice President and Director of the Joint Center Health Policy Institute, will be one of the feature speakers at this conference.

Please register by Friday, October 14, 2011.  Registration forms can be downloaded at: www.michigan.gov/hivstd

For more information, please contact Belinda Chandler at: chandlerbel@michigan.gov or 517-241-5926