(Washington, D.C.)- The Congressional Black Caucus released the following statement on health reform legislation:

As the Members of Congress who disproportionately represent the men, women and children who are under-insured and uninsured and whose health and wellness have suffered because of the numerous gaps in our nation’s health care system, we support efforts to reform and modernize America’s health care system through comprehensive health care reform.

We support health care reform that includes a robust public option like Medicare – a component of health care reform for which we are unwavering in our support.  We want to strengthen and protect Medicare for our seniors and agree that Medicare services should not be reduced as a means of paying for this health care reform bill. While the proposed provisions for a robust public option will not be implemented until 2013, as early as 2010 many positive reforms will be enacted, such as prohibiting the abusive health insurance practice of rescinding existing coverage in order to avoid future costs, improving preventive care and coverage, making prescription drugs more affordable by eliminating the gaps in coverage and increasing funding for community health centers.

Myriad reports document the extent of health disparities and conclude that only 20 percent of these disparities can be attributed to health insurance status. We are affirming the importance of provisions that eliminate health disparities remaining the final bill in order to achieve health equity.

We support the Congressional TriCaucus’ arduous work to include health disparity elimination provisions in health care reform and we are pleased that some of these provisions have already been included.  We reiterate our support for the inclusion of stronger provisions, such as those in Titles I, II, III and IV, and section 402 of the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2009 (HR 3090), which endeavor to not only address, but eliminate, the health inequities that disproportionately and detrimentally affect racial and ethnic minorities, women, rural Americans and Americans in the U.S. Territories.

We support critical efforts to achieve equity and parity for Americans in both the States and U.S. Territories. It is important that the final bill include comprehensive services for children, including prevention services, mental health and substance abuse provisions and administrative improvements to simplify the enrollment process.

We oppose any efforts to reduce the cost of the bill by cutting vital services such as prevention, disproportionate share, or other such existing programs that work to bolster diversity in the health workforce.

We reject spurious claims that the cost of reforming health care in America is something our nation cannot afford, as well as arguments that the cost of the bill must be lowered.  We agree that health care reform should not add to the national debt. The proposed house bill is budget neutral and the only changes made to the legislation should be those which expand – not reduce – the scope and breadth of its positive impact on the nation.

We intend to seize this unique time in our nation’s history to ensure that we not only reform our nation’s ailing health care system, but that we transform it in a manner that eliminates uninsurance through a robust public option like Medicare, protects and strengthens Medicare for our seniors, achieves health equity for all Americans and makes us as a nation, healthier and stronger.

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