San Antonio’s Eastside Promise Neighborhood (EPN) is a community of about 18,000 residents (67.5% Latino) who face many health disparities driven by socioeconomic inequities in income, education and access to health care. Noemi Villarreal and others at EPN sought ways to improve health care and health equity in the area. To do that, they looked for ways to promote the idea of the “medical home,” in which the patient/family is the center of partnerships with primary care providers, specialists, educational resources, and the entire community. They formed a group of dedicated "Community Connectors" to travel the neighborhood and do whatever was necessary to promote development of a medical home for every home.
Addressing issues in San Antonio
Noemi Villarreal, health ...
A new report from the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), using national data, found that the Latino high school graduation rate rose to 78% in 2013 compared to 2007. Toward A More Equitable Future: The Trends and Challenges Facing America’s Latino Children is a new report released by the NCLR which utilized nationally gathered data to shed light on the true state, good and bad, of Latino children in the United States. “When people don’t want to do something, they hide behind data,” said Lori Kaplan, head of the Latin American Youth Center in Washington, D.C. at a recent news event announcing the report. “They say ‘show me the data.’ But smaller operations usually don’t have the resources to gather data to prove that what they know to be true through ...
SaludToday Guest Blogger
Dr. Michel Choueiri of CancerDocs.org I am going to tell you the story of Anna López and why it is important to always ask two doctors before making a major decision. Anna arrived to Los Angeles in 2014 from Guatemala. She turned 49 last June. She was taking a shower one morning when she noticed a mass on her breast. She did not know what to do and went to the first doctor who her cousin knew. After a pleasant consultation, she was advised that she would need to have surgery to remove all her breast. Sad, Anna went home, cried with her husband that night. She could not speak English and did not know many people in LA to ask for help. She agreed to the surgery and the operation was scheduled for the following week. Luckily, her friend who works at UCLA had ...
SaludToday Guest Blogger
Jefferson Dental Clinics Most kids have their first dental visit by age 7. For Latinos, it's age 16. Why the big delay? About half of Latino families lack dental insurance. Latinos tend to not prioritize dental health, or they face barriers like high cost, lack of oral health knowledge, and lack of bilingual, dentists, surveys show. The result is Latino kids with twice as much untreated tooth decay and less preventative care than their peers. “Unfortunately this disparity is something that carries throughout life, since dental care starts at an early age and impacts the development of the teeth and gums,” says Dr. Leslie Townsend of Jefferson Dental Clinics. Negligence of dental care isn't just a "teeth" problem, either. It causes ...
Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed into law in 2010, millions of Americans have gained coverage or found more affordable options thanks to the tax credit. New information released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shows that 2.5 million Americans may now qualify for these tax credits if they shop for 2017 coverage through the Marketplace. “More than 9 million Americans already receive financial assistance through the Health Insurance Marketplace to help keep coverage affordable, but today’s data show millions more Americans could benefit,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell in a news release. “We encourage everyone to check out their options on HealthCare.gov or their state Marketplace and see if they qualify for financial assistance. ...
For Latinas of Mexican or Puerto Rican decent, breast cancer is more likely to be fatal than for other U.S. Latinas, according to a new study from the Avon Foundation for Women, USA Today reports. The research is the first of its kind on Latino subgroups. It showed that breast cancer mortality rates differed for Cubans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Central and South American women with breast cancer in the United States. The findings have implications for how Latinas receive care and treatment. “A critical first step to improving breast cancer prevention, diagnosis and care for Hispanic women is understanding where the greatest needs are,” said Cheryl Heinonen, Avon Foundation president to USA Today. “The more we know, the better we will be at improving care, quality of life and ...
The rate of uninsured individuals has steadily decreased since the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). From 2010-2015, research from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that coverage gains have been shared widely across groups of all races, ages, and income levels. The overall uninsured rate for Americans in all income groups fell by 40%. “Regardless of your income, age, geography, or race, everyone is gaining access to coverage or better coverage under the Affordable Care Act,” said Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell in a statement. “Going into the fourth Open Enrollment, Americans have experienced historic coverage gains.” In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, ...
Young adults had the highest uninsured rates before the Affordable Care Act and have seen the sharpest drop in uninsured rates since 2010. Latinos currently make up the largest population of uninsured individuals overall. Latinos are also the youngest racial or ethnic group in the U.S. Nearly one-third of the nation’s Latino population is younger than 18. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly six-in-ten Latinos are Millennials or younger. Millions of young adults remain uninsured and new tools are needed to bridge the gap to obtaining coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. “More than 9 in 10 Marketplace-eligible young adults without health insurance have incomes that could qualify them for tax credits to make plans affordable, but that fact hasn’t fully ...
Latinos are the U.S. population most likely to skip health care due to cost. But there's some good news. Latinos are also more likely to be open to new ways of accessing care, like engaging with the health system through new tools, venues and ways, if it costs less and the technology is available, according to a new report by PwC Health Research Institute. Latinos are the leading edge of the new health economy, where consumers choose care according to their wants, needs and wallet. In 10 areas, according to the report, Latinos are more likely to: Be satisfied with the care at a retail clinic.
Use alternative venues, such as retail clinics, for care.
Have communicated with a clinician via email or other digital means.
Be open to new ways to access care, from using ...
