HHS Launches First of Its Kind Consumer Website in Spanish (posted 9/27)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services earlier this month unveiled CuidadodeSalud.gov, the first website in Spanish of its kind to help consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to new information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage.  Consistent with the mandate in the Affordable Care Act, CuidadodeSalud.gov is the partner site of HealthCare.gov, which was launched in July 2010, and is the first website in Spanish to provide consumers with both public and private health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs in a single, easy-to-use tool. Access the website to see how it works.

“CuidadoDeSalud.gov like HealthCare.gov is an unprecedented website which provides consumers with the power of information at their fingertips. Individuals, families, and small businesses will be able to easily compare both public and private health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs, said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “CuidadoDeSalud.gov will give Latinos across the nation better information about the choices they have, how much they cost, and what they can expect from their doctor--specific to their life situation and local community.”

In addition, the website is a one-stop-shop for information about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act as well as other health care resources.  The website connects consumers to quality rankings for local health care providers as well as preventive services. Read the full press release.

National Indian Youth Leadership Project’s Founder Wins Service Award (posted 9/24)

Congratulations to McClellan Hall, founder and Executive Director of the National Indian Youth Leadership Project, for being named the recipient of the 2nd Annual Alice King Public Service Award. Mac will be honored at the New Mexico Voices for Children 2nd Annual Spirit of Hope Celebration on Saturday, September 25 at the Albuquerque Museum.


About Alice King
Alice King was New Mexico’s beloved First Lady during Governor Bruce King’s three terms in office. As an advo- cate, she not only had the governor’s ear, she also captured the attention of the entire state with her deep commitment to the health and well-being of New Mexico’s children. She passed away in 2008.

She was a visionary with an open heart and a determination to make New Mexico a better place for children. In her work, she gath- ered people together from all over the state and, in doing so, brought collaboration to the forefront as a means to achieve her goals.

Among her many accomplishments, Alice is credited with persuading lawmakers to create the state’s child welfare agency, the Children, Youth and Families Department. She also founded the New Mexico Girls Ranch and the New Mexico Children’s Foundation, was chair of the New Mexico Children’s Trust Fund, and was a major supporter of the Carrie Tingley Children’s Hospital.
 
The 1st Annual Alice King Public Service Award in 2009 went to New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Petra Jimenez- Maes. The two finalists were Second Judicial Court Judge Maria Monica Zamora and Director of the State Office of African American Affairs, Dr. Harold Bailey.


About the Award
This award honors a New Mexican involved in elected, appointed, administrative or volunteer public service work, with a proven record of exceptional community and public service, who demonstrates outstanding civic and charitable responsibility, and whose actions and leadership encourages others to take public leadership roles at the community, national and/or international level.

New Kaiser Family Foundation Issue Brief on Health Reform and Communities of Color (posted 9/24)

The Health Care Reform law contains some provisions specific to health disparities, such as provisions that focus on improving data collection on race, ethnicity, primary language, geographic area, and disability. This new issue brief from the Kaiser Family Foundation titled "Health Reform And Communities Of Color: Implications For Racial And Ethnic Health Disparities" examines the key provisions of the 2010 health reform law that will expand health coverage and are likely to improve access to care for people of color, as well as some of the other provisions that will likely have either a direct or indirect impact on health disparities. Read the issue brief.

The issue brief found that:

"The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contains many provisions that will likely impact the health of and health care received by people of color. Chief among them are the expansions in coverage, since people of color are disproportionately represented among the uninsured. While the coverage expansions promulgated by the health reform law will not be sufficient to eliminate health disparities, they are a necessary first step.

Some of the provisions pertinent to racial and ethnic health disparities included in the health reform law rely on grants and demonstration projects. Due to fiscal constraints, it is likely that many people will be left out of the grantmaking process. Demonstration projects are helpful to gather knowledge where little exists, but unless the successful findings are incorporated into existing programs and unless new programs are generated to put the knowledge of what works into practice, it is unlikely that these projects will contribute as much as they could towards the reduction in racial and ethnic health disparities."

Call for Comments on the Existing CLAS Standards (posted 9/24)

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health Care. To ensure that the CLAS Standards remain current and appropriate, the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) is launching an enhancement initiative of the CLAS Standards.  As a part of this initiative the OMH is seeking public input from individuals and professional communities across the country. Comment online!

The public comment period will begin September 20, 2010 and conclude December 31, 2010. During this time three regional meetings on the standards will be held throughout the country. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to submit their comments on the 14 standards and their current application and use. The enhanced national standards, as revised in accordance with public comment and subject matter expertise, will be published for review in spring of 2011 with the final versions being published in fall of 2011.

The meetings will be held in the following locations on the following dates:

• Baltimore, Maryland, Friday, October 22, 2010 9am-3pm: The Hyatt Regency,300 Light Street,Baltimore, MD 21202
• San Francisco, California, Thursday, November 4, 2010 9am-3pm: The Stanford Court, A Renaissance Hotel, 905 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
• Chicago, Illinois, Monday, November 15, 2010 9am-3pm: The James Hotel, 55 East Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611-2727.

Register today!

 

Background on the CLAS Standards:

To help achieve its mission of “improving the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of effective health policies and programs that help to eliminate disparities in health,” the OMH published the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care (CLAS Standards) in 2001. The CLAS Standards were developed on the basis of an analytical review of key laws, regulations, contracts, and standards used by Federal and State agencies and other national organizations, with input from a national advisory committee of policymakers, health care providers, and researchers. Open public hearings were held to obtain input from communities throughout the nation. The CLAS Standards represent the first national standards for cultural competence in health care and offer comprehensive guidance on what constitutes culturally competent service delivery. They consist of 14 guidelines, recommendations, and mandates that serve to inform, guide, and facilitate implementation of culturally and linguistically appropriate services in health care. The CLAS Standards are organized by three themes: Culturally Competent Care, Language Access Services, and Organizational Supports. They recognize that culture and language are central to the delivery of health services.Show citation box

Disparities in health care have been documented in a number of groundbreaking reports: Findings of the Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General (CMHS, 2001a) reveal that “racial and ethnic minorities bear a greater burden from unmet mental health needs and thus suffer a greater loss to their overall health and productivity.” Findings from the 2000 Surgeon General's Report Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General indicated significant disparities “between racial and socioeconomic groups in regards to oral health and ensuing overall health issues” (DHHS, 2000). The 2003 report from the Institute of Medicine, Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare (Smedley, Stith & Nelson, 2003), and its supplementary paper contributions such as Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Diagnosis and Treatment: A Review of the Evidence and a Consideration of Causes (Geiger, 2003) and The Civil Rights Dimension of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Status (Perez, 2003), brought to the forefront that minorities receive lower quality health care even when socioeconomic and access-related factors are controlled. The report also showed that bias, stereotyping, prejudice, and clinical uncertainty may contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in health care (Smedley et al., 2003).Show citation box

A significant body of research released since the 2003 IOM report corroborates these findings. The National Healthcare Disparities Report prepared by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality states that “although varying in magnitude by condition and population, disparities are observed in almost all aspects of health care” (The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2006). Inspired by the CLAS Standards, national organizations including the American Medical Association (AMA), American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), the Joint Commission, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the National Quality Forum (NQF) and others have released standards to help support the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate care. Many of these standards promote the education and training of health care providers in culturally appropriate care.Show citation box

Increasingly, national experts are looking to cultural competency training as a means to reduce disparities in health care. Evidence suggests that the most effective cultural competence training helps providers develop new knowledge, skills, and attitudes in order to effectively treat minority and immigrant populations (Smedley et al., 2003). The concepts of cultural and linguistic competency as well as health disparities are featured prominently in the health care reform legislation enacted and signed by President Barack Obama in March 2010. References to the concepts of cultural and linguistic competency illustrate how pervasive and important the constructs have become.

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month! (posted 9/9)

Now in its 21st year, Recovery Month brings together people in recovery and those who support the process to celebrate the positive effects of treatment and recovery. Participate by attending an event in your area—there are hundreds of events being held around the country in September. You can join a walk, a rally, a run, a motorcycle ride, a barbecue, a prayer weekend, or a baseball game! There are many different kinds of events to choose from. Join thousands of people who support recovery, and enjoy the fun and camaraderie!

To learn about Recovery Month, learn about or post events taking place in your community, access generic or customizable public service announcements to raise awareness about Recovery Month, and download recover resources visit the National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month website. You can also download the 2010 Recovery Month Kit.

Multicultural Resources:

• Road to Recovery Television Series - Embracing Diversity: Crossing Barriers To Deliver Treatment to Everyone
• Ask the Expert - Embracing Diversity: Crossing Barriers To Deliver Treatment to Everyone
• Road to Recovery Television Series - Language Matters: Talking About Addiction and Recovery
• Ask the Expert - Language Matters: Talking About Addiction and Recovery (send your questions today!)
  
• Road to Recovery flyer in Spanish

 

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