WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, OH –As the nation celebrates National Minority Health Month (NMHM), Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) continues the fight for the protection of The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and promotes policies and programs that help combat health disparities in communities of color. 

“Too many diseases disproportionately impact communities of color,” said Congresswoman Fudge. “From diabetes and heart disease to breast and prostate cancer, our communities remain at or near the top of nearly every negative health indicator. This month, and every month, we must act to improve the health of our nation.”

This year’s NMHM theme is ‘Bridging Health Equity Across Communities,’ emphasizing the collaborative, community-level work being done to help achieve health equity.  Circle Health Services is one organization carrying out this work in the 11^th Congressional District.

“We are proud of the good work we are doing to help patients manage chronic care issues including hypertension, diabetes, asthma and substance dependency and mental health illnesses,” said Circle Health Services (formerly The Free Clinic) Chief Medical Officer and Co-interim Executive Director Farah Munir. “Minority Health Month spotlights the fact that there are still great disparities in morbidity and mortality rates between Caucasians and most minorities.”

NMHM was created in 1989 to focus on health promotion and disease prevention. National recognition of NMHM began in 2000.

“This month is a timely reminder of how important access to affordable health care is for communities of color in the 11th Congressional District, across the state, and around the country,” said Congresswoman Fudge. “Access to care can reduce health disparities, improve health outcomes, and lead to longer, healthier lives.”

In his first 100 days, President Donald Trump has taken several steps to decrease access to quality, affordable care.  In January, he issued an Executive Order calling for federal agencies to ‘ease the burden’ of administering the ACA.  Furthermore, despite promises to create ‘health care for everyone,’ the President joined House Republicans in supporting a ‘replacement bill’ that would have endangered the health of millions, especially communities of color.

“There is so much work to be done to ensure health access for all persons, providing important preventive care and utilizing resources where they are needed the most. The Affordable Care Act has helped close to 1 million people access basic medical care. The repeal of the ACA will have a harmful impact on so many Ohioans. In addition to many losing coverage, there will be a negative impact on the state budget because of possible changes to Medicaid Expansion and a $15 billion increase in the cost of indigent care for Ohio hospitals,” said Minority Health Alliance President Yvonne Oliver.

President and CEO of Care Alliance Health Eleace Sawyers agrees.  Dedicated to caring for low-income medically underserved minority communities, the Care Alliance has been able to increase patient care through the ACA.  “With respect to health outcomes, Care Alliance Health Center experienced an increase of more than 4,000 more patients by way of health care reform inclusive of ACA and Ohio’s Medicaid expansion.  We have seen our insured rates moved from 21.5% to 63%, patients served increased from 9,524 to 13,936, which is evidence that patients are ‘taking charge of their health,’ and is one way to get us to the next level of quality of care, by way of increasing access to care and increasing our bottom line.”

Congresswoman Fudge believes regardless of race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status, everyone deserves quality, affordable health care and applauds organizations throughout the 11^th District, state, and nation working to ensure all Americans have access to it.

To learn more about National Minority Health Month, click here.

To read more about the impact of The Affordable Care Act, click here.

To learn more about Circle Health Services, click here.

To learn more about the Minority Health Alliance, click here.

To learn more about the Care Alliance Health Center, click here.

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