Health Plan Cost Cutting Becoming Discriminatory; Group to Unveil Analysis of CA Health Care Crisis Showing Hispanics at Greatest Risk

12/2/2002

From: Adriana Alarcon for The Latino Coalition Foundation, 202-546-0008

News Advisory:

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY

-- Press Conference on Thursday, December 5 at 1 p.m. at the National Press Club

The Latino Coalition Foundation (TLCF) will hold a press conference to release a study, entitled "A Gathering Storm in California Health Care? Trends in Managed Care Costs, Accountability and Quality," which details how shifting health care costs to employers and consumers threatens Hispanics' access to insurance and quality health care services. The study shows the rising price tag for health care means Californians will pay more for even fewer care options.

The study found that rates of insurance compound Hispanics' ability to manage the chronic illnesses that disproportionately affect them, like diabetes and asthma. Hispanics overall develop diabetes at twice the rate of other ethnic groups; and one in seven Hispanic children have asthma. In an attempt to save money, California health plans have taken steps to steer patients toward generics and over-the-counter medications. Hispanics, as a result, wind up paying more out of their own pockets to receive the specific diabetes and asthma-related treatments they need.

"The health care outlook for California's Hispanics is anything but healthy. Consumers, employers and legislators are not fully aware of the implications of the health plan trend to charge more and deliver less, especially at a time when health plan profits are strong," said Robert de Posada, President of The Latino Coalition. "This research amplifies the need for Hispanics to become more aware of how these changes directly affect California workers and their families."

The survey's author, Naomi Lopez-Bauman, TLCF's Chaiman Mario Rodriguez, and TLC President Robert Deposada, as well as other representatives from Latino groups, will participate at the press conference. For more information, please call 202-546-0008.

The Latino Coalition is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C. The Coalition was established to address policy issues that directly affect the well being of Hispanics in the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.TheLatinoCoalition.com or http://www.TLCFoundation.com.