Latinos’ Access to Health Care Called Lacking

Latino Americans need better access to medical care in a system populated by more Latino medical professionals if the United States is to address serious health care problems among one of its largest minority groups, U.S. Surgeon General Antonia Coello Novello said Wednesday.

Novello’s remarks came after a three-day meeting among more than 200 Latino American health experts. The conference was called to begin to develop a Latino health care agenda for the future.

“In these three days, we have cut through talk to get the action we must have to progress,” Novello said. “We have also been informed and enlightened as never before.”

The meeting was spurred by figures that show a disproportionate number of Latinos suffer from insufficient health care in the United States. One-fourth of all Latinos live in poverty, she said, and, although the majority of Latinos are employed, one-third of them do not possess health insurance--often because they do not earn enough to pay for it.

By contrast, about 20% of white Americans are uninsured, according to a study based on U.S. Census Bureau figures.

Health care access for Latinos is also hampered by language and cultural differences, racial stereotypes and poor education, Novello said.

Among the general ideas advanced for improving conditions are more Latino involvement in the fields of health research and science, and the creation of a system of preventive services within the Latino community.

Another suggested reform was in coordination of Medicaid and Medicare laws among states. Those laws now vary widely. Latinos who are accustomed to laws in California, for example, would face radically different eligibility requirements if they move to Illinois or Texas.

In Chicago, Medicaid patients are required to wait nine months before they can set up a general appointment, three months if their visit is about a pregnancy and one year if the health problem is dental, said University of Illinois professor Aida Giachello, a Latino leader who joined Novello at the press conference.

“It’s in the best interest of the presidential candidates to understand clearly that the Hispanic community will no longer stand to be ignored,” said Rudy Sanchez, a Latino lobbyist from Arlington, Va.

The workshop did not recommend specific courses of action or provide cost estimates for improving the system. Instead, it served as a framework for more detailed regional conferences to be held next year in Chicago, San Antonio, Miami, Los Angeles and New York.