[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


CHRISTENSEN URGES MANAGED HEALTH CARE EXECS TO HELP CLOSE DISPARITY GAP

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                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record an 
article submitted by the Congressional Black Caucus entitled 
``Christensen Urges Managed Health Care Execs to Help Close Disparity 
Gap'' which addresses the disparities in health care as experienced by 
minorities in this country.
  On April 20, 2006, during the Capitol Summit: Politics in Healthcare 
event, Congresswoman Donna Christensen, in her role as the chairperson 
for the Congressional Black Caucus's Health Braintrust, addressed a 
group of managed health care executives to discuss the challenges 
facing health care organizations. Congresswoman Christensen focused on 
the disparities in care for all ethnic minorities in this country.
  As you will see as you read the submission, there are many challenges 
to overcome to ensure quality health care for all Americans. Ms. 
Christensen's statements are not all inclusive; they actually touch on 
the tip of the iceberg. We need to engage in much more dialog to keep 
this issue in the forefront and to make sure these messages reach not 
only corporate executives but everyone, particularly those who can 
directly affect a more positive outcome.
  To quote member Christensen: ``Lack of insurance and the resulting 
poor health undermines everyone else's health care''. I strongly agree 
that progress can be made through reinforcement of prevention and 
comprehensive care initiatives. We must all do our part to ensure that 
``wellness is within the reach of everyone living in this country.''

 Christensen Urges Managed Health Care Execs To Help Close Disparities 
                                  Gap

       (April 20, 2006--Washington, D.C.)--Joining the efforts to 
     reduce disparities in health care should be the business of 
     all businesses big and small, according to Congresswoman 
     Donna M. Christensen, who chairs the Congressional Black 
     Caucus's Health Braintrust. Christensen addressed a gathering 
     of managed health care executives on Thursday afternoon at 
     the Capitol Summit: Politics in Healthcare event where 
     executives examined and discussed the challenges facing 
     healthcare organizations today including persistent 
     disparities in the care that ethnic minorities receive in 
     this country. ``Businesses can help to reduce their costs if 
     they launch efforts to reduce and eliminate racial and ethnic 
     health disparities,'' Christensen said. ``When employees 
     receive inadequate or lower quality health care, costs are 
     assumed by companies and businesses in increased rates of 
     absenteeism or being sick at work, which results in lower 
     rates of productivity, as well as in increased health care 
     costs. ``
       Christensen applauded the group for including the issue of 
     health disparities on their agenda. ``I am hopeful that your 
     interest and the pressures that you are under regarding the 
     provision of health care and its increasing costs will be the 
     impetus for the change we need not just to heal our minority 
     populations but the entire country,'' she said. ``Industry is 
     coming to realize ahead of policy makers that early detection 
     and management of some chronic and acute conditions may 
     reduce the amount of health care needed and improve quality 
     of life and improve outcomes.'' Christensen commended some 
     businesses that have ``looked at health disparities among 
     your own employees and the costs of care and are beginning to 
     institute programs to improve both their health and your 
     costs.''
       Christensen said that it should be a matter of conscience 
     that ``in the richest, most technologically advanced and 
     supposed humanitarian country in the world . . . there are an 
     estimated 100,000 annual preventable, premature, excess 
     deaths in African Americans.'' Similar statistics exist in 
     the Hispanic, Native American and Asian and Pacific Islander 
     communities. ``For years politicians, community activists, 
     advocates and organizations have been calling for an 
     appropriate response to such devastating but preventable 
     disease, disability and death in communities of color,'' she 
     said. ``We have argued on the humanity of it, on the right 
     and God-fearing thing to do.''
       Christensen pointed to the role that un-insurance and 
     underinsurance play in the persistence of health disparities 
     and the effect that it has had on the wider community. She 
     pointed to the fact that many communities, including her 
     district of the U.S. Virgin Islands have struggled to 
     determine the fairest way to provide coverage for employees 
     in businesses large and small. ``Lack of insurance and (the) 
     resulting poor health undermines everyone else's 
     healthcare,'' she said, emphasizing that it is only through 
     ``prevention and comprehensive care for which providers are 
     adequately compensated that the rising cost of health care 
     will be controlled and reduced.'' She urged the executives to 
     ``use their corporate influence'' to ensure that ``wellness 
     is within the reach of everyone living in this country.''
       Other speakers on the Summit's agenda included former 
     Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Senator John Breaux, 
     author Glenn Hubbard and members of the McGlaughlin Group.
       (For more information contact Monique C. Watson at 202-226-
     7973 or Britt Weinstock at 202-226-7974)

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