(BOSTON) “Community Catalyst applauds the introduction in Congress yesterday of the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2011 (HEAA). The comprehensive bill provides hundreds of tools to address the disgraceful health disparities that plague our communities and deprive so many people of color of long, healthy lives.                  

“Introduced by leaders of the Congressional Congressional Tri-Caucus – the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – the bill builds on the expansions of coverage in the Affordable Care Act, the health equity initiatives of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and activities to enhance community health underway across the country.

“The bill, HR 2954, includes creative measures to improve the health of families of all backgrounds by eliminating barriers to care, promoting better ways to provide care, expanding and diversifying the health workforce, and addressing factors that deeply affect our health, such as the environment in which we live, work and play. Studies show that reducing racial and ethnic health disparities not only saves lives but saves billions of dollars a year in medical costs.

“Many of the measures proposed in the bill provide a blueprint for our work with advocates to advance health equity nationwide.”

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About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone – especially vulnerable members of society.

For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blogs at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/ and http://postscript.communitycatalyst.org/. Follow us on Twitter @saferxwatch and @healthpolicyhub.