A Closer Look At the Health Inequities in Latino Communities
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Policy impacts everyone.
And as entrepreneurs and employers we need pay attention to these significant issues, and whenever possible, take action to improve matters. Thankfully, this is an area where our team at Formé Medical Center in White Plains, NY is making its own contributions. We recently launched a medical membership program that offers affordable care to the uninsured community, a large percentage of which is Latino in our geography. This program is available to individuals, but businesses are also finding it useful as they see a value in purchasing these memberships for their employees because they recognize that a healthy and motivated workforce improves productivity and that’s always good for the bottomline. More on this program in future posts.
On a national platform
On a national platform, ensuring that those healthcare gaps are properly addressed is an on-going process, requiring a concerted effort from the public, private sector and government agencies. To this end, the Department of Health and Human Services has launched a strategic Disparities Action Plan to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. At the same time, at the community level, organizations like Enroll America, Families USA, CAP, and even independent community-based and private medical practices, like Formé Medical Center, where I work, focus their efforts on service & program innovation, policy advocacy, education campaigns, capacity-building among communities and providers, and on-the-ground enrollment assistance.
To learn more about health equity and social justice, below are some great places to visit for more information:
- Office of Minority Health – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Enroll America – Get Covered America
- Center for American Progress
- Families USA
