Eric Moreno is a Content Curator with the Salud America! program at UT Health San Antonio. He specializes in covering the topics of health equity and family and social support. He holds a BA from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MA from Gonzaga University.
Earlier this month, at the close of the legislative session, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton signed into law a supplementary spending plan that includes $35 million in one-time funding for programs that help reduce racial and ethnic economic and educational disparities. The legislature agreed to a continued $17.5 million in annual funding going forward. The majority of the funds ($34 million) will be managed by Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The agency will distribute grant funding to over 30 organizations and nonprofit groups in the state. These groups include Hennepin County’s Career Connections Pathways, the White Earth Nation Business Development, and the Latino nonprofit group CLUES. Many of the grants will be used to help expand access to ...
The University Health System has been awarded nearly $1 million in federal funds to increase the number of children in Bexar County, Texas (59% Latino population) that are enrolling in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, close to 10% of Bexar County’s children are uninsured, a significant improvement from 2009 when the rate of uninsured children was 14%. However, in some census tracks, according to a report by the San Antonio Express-News, the uninsured rate reaches as high as 40% “There are still a number of barriers to obtaining coverage,” said Dr. Roberto Villarreal, University Health System’s senior vice president of research and information in an interview with the Express-News. “Most families are aware ...
In Chicago (29% Latino population), the unemployment rates are staggering in some communities; some are as high as 31%, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. The city also has the highest rates of racial disparities in employment among major metro areas. Job availability, job readiness, and lack of training are some of the key reasons why many people are continually searching for employment. Unemployment has been directly linked to serious health concerns. Research by Harvard University found that unemployment is associated with a range of increased health problems. For individuals with no prior health problems, being fired or laid off increased the risk of fair or poor health by 83 percent in this study. A unique effort has been undertaken to address the city’s growing economic ...
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced $32 million in awards to help 38 community in 27 states enroll eligible children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as part of the Connecting Kids to Coverage campaign. In 2015, an estimated 8 in 10 uninsured Latinos qualified for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), or lower costs on monthly premiums through the Health Insurance Marketplace. These awards were designed to build on the historic progress already made increasing the number of children who have health coverage. The Connecting Kids to Coverage outreach and enrollment awards will support targeted strategies needed to enroll eligible children who do not have health coverage, including application ...
According to the most recent census, there are over 55 million Latinos living in the United States. They make up the largest ethnic minority group in the United States and their numbers and influence are growing at a rapid pace. While they face many health, financial, and educational disparities a new report has found that the future looks bright for Latinos. A new survey from the Pew Research Center has found that 81% of Latinos expect their personal finances to improve in the next year. This is up significantly from the 67% that were surveyed who felt that way in 2011. Latinos are also more optimistic than the general public; 61% overall felt they would improve financially in the upcoming year. The research determined that the “bulk” of the optimism is coming from Latino ...
Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a “final rule” to advance health equity and reduce healthcare disparities. Under the new rule, individuals are protected from discrimination in healthcare on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability and sex. The rule also protects against discrimination based on pregnancy, gender identity, and sex stereotyping. The Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities final rule impacts portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). “A central goal of the Affordable Care Act is to help all Americans access quality, affordable health care.” said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. “Today’s announcement is a key step toward realizing equity within our health care system and reaffirms this Administration's ...
A study by the American Cancer Society estimated that nearly 6,000 Latino men and 5,000 Latino women could be diagnosed with colon cancer each year. Colorectal cancer is the second-most commonly diagnosed cancer for both Latino men and women. However, eating a particular “superfood” may help prevent this dreaded disease. UConn Health and The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, reported in the Cancer Prevention Research journal, found that eating walnuts may change a person’s gut bacteria in a way that suppresses colon cancer. The researchers studied mice and found that those that at 7-10% of their daily total calories as walnuts developed fewer instances of colon cancer. These findings are the equivalent of a human eating one ounce of walnuts a day. Walnuts are loaded with ...
New research, reported by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has determined that access to safe neighborhood spaces for physical activity can help families and kids maintain a healthy weight, but it is not often enough. According to a recent estimate, nearly 40% of U.S. Latino youths ages 2-19 are overweight or obese, compared with only 28.5% of non-Latino white youths. Also, the percentage of those who are overweight or obese between ages 2-5 is nearly 30% for Latino children compared with only 21% of non-Latino white children. According to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana healthcare economist Mike Bertaut, healthcare providers—and health insurers—play a critical role for families and children at high risk for obesity and/or obesity-related disease. “Obesity is the ...
In nearly every community across the country, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is working to increase access to affordable, quality health care. For Latinos, an estimated 8 in 10 who were previously uninsured qualified for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), or lower costs on monthly premiums through the Health Insurance Marketplace. To date, over 4 million Latinos (ages 18-64) have gained health coverage, lowering the overall uninsured rate among Latinos by nearly 8%. Also, over 913,000 Latino adults 19-26, who would have previously been uninsured, now have coverage under their parents’ plans. Getting health insurance is an important first step for overall better health. Once you have your coverage, how do you make it “work” for you? The U.S. Centers for ...
