Health Care
All Americans should have access to high quality, comprehensive, and affordable health care. Nearly 50 million people in the United States lacked health care in 2010 - 16.3% of the population, accordidng to the U.S. Census Bureau. Even those with health coverage face rising costs and decreased benefits. Children, older Americans, and people of color are especially at risk of not receiving the health care they need. In 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to address the health care needs of all Americans and protect the interests of health care consumers.
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Defending Health Care Reform By addressing the huge disparities in both access to and quality of care, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act takes a momentous step toward ensuring that all Americans can benefit from affordable, high-quality health care. Factsheets on Health Care Disparities Facing Racial and Ethnic Minorities The Affordable Care Act Promotes Equal Opportunity for African Americans | Download PDF The Affordable Care Act Promotes Equal Opportunity American Indians and Alaska Natives | Download PDF The Affordable Care Act Promotes Equal Opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders | Download PDF The Affordable Care Act Promotes Equal Opportunity for Latinos | Download PDFAmicus Briefs in Support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 The Leadership Conference has joined the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union in filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court arguing that the minimum coverage provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is clearly constitutional and, in fact, advances equal opportunity and liberty for millions of disadvantaged Americans. The Leadership Conference has also signed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the Medicaid Expansion Provision of the Affordable Care Act . The brief outlines U.S. obligations under international treaties to address disparities in both access to and quality of coverage and care. In its statement of interest, The Leadership Conference said the Medicaid Expansion Provision “will lead to broader access to quality health care by the most vulnerable segments of society, including children, people of color, women, seniors, and people with disabilities.” The National Women’s Law Center brief on behalf of 60 organizations in United States Department of Health and Human Services, et al v. State of Florida, et al. The brief "explains what’s at stake for women in the challenge to the new health care law and why the ACA, in correcting fundamental gender inequities in the health insurance and health care markets, is an appropriate exercise of federal Commerce Clause authority and therefore is constitutional." The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum et. al. brief in support of the arugment that the Court should sever the minimum coverage provision and leave the remainder of the Affordable Care Act intact if the Courtfinds the provision unconstitutional.National Health Law Program et. al. brief in support of the Medicaid Expansion Provision of the Affordable Care Act Census Data Show Effectiveness of Low-Income Programs; But Racial Disparities, Inequality PersistSeptember 12, 2012 - Posted by Corrine Yu The percentage of Americans living in poverty fell slightly from 15.1 to 15 percent from 2010 to 2011, while the percentage lacking health insurance dropped from 16.3 percent to 15.7 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest data. The report also showed incomes rising for the top 5 percent of households, but falling for those in the middle. U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Health Care LawNovember 16, 2011 - Posted by The Leadership Conference The U.S. Supreme Court announced this week that it will be taking up a case challenging the Affordable Care Act, the landmark health care law signed by President Barack Obama in 2010. Advocates Say Proposed Medicaid Changes Would Disproportionately Hurt Vulnerable CommunitiesJune 10, 2011 - Posted by Ron Bigler Plans circulating in Congress to modify the Medicaid health care program threaten to put millions of America’s most vulnerable citizens – minorities, seniors, children, and people with disabilities – at risk, warn civil and human rights advocates. Supreme Court Orders California to Reduce Its Prison Population, Address Civil Rights ViolationsMay 24, 2011 - Posted by Avril Lighty The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that overcrowding in California prisons, which has led to grossly unsanitary conditions and inadequate access to medical and mental health care, violates constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Campaign for Better Care and Federal Government Launch Initiatives Encourage Better Hospital CareApril 14, 2011 - Posted by The Leadership Conference The Campaign for Better Care (CBC), a campaign to ensure that health reform works for older adults with multiple health problems, launched an initiative this week focused on engaging patients and caregivers in improving hospital care to reduce preventable hospital-acquired illnesses and readmissions. Anniversary of Health Care Law Inspires Show of Support from Advocates and BeneficiariesMarch 23, 2011 - Posted by Avril Lighty One year after President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, events around the country are highlighting how millions of people are benefiting from the law, providing an opportunity to reinvigorate supporters and to push back against those seeking to repeal or defund of some or all of its provisions. Civil and Human Rights Coalition Defends Funding for Women’s Health ServicesFebruary 18, 2011 - Posted by Tyler Lewis The civil and human rights community is urging the Senate to vote down legislation that would cut all funding to Title X programs, which was passed by the House of Representatives today. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Mike Pence, R. Ind., is part of the FY2011 Continuing Resolution, which would fund the federal government through the end of September. Civil Rights Coalition Opposes Legislation to Repeal Health Care Reform LawJanuary 18, 2011 - Posted by Avril Lighty The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights sent a letter to the House of Representatives today opposing proposed legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which the coalition calls "vital to improving the health of our nation’s most underserved communities." Report Card Finds Most States Falling Short on Women’s HealthDecember 10, 2010 - Posted by Ron Bigler Despite some progress, the majority of states received an "unsatisfactory" grade in an annual report card on women's health issued by the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC). Only two states – Massachusetts and Vermont – received a "satisfactory" grade, while the District of Columbia and 11 other states received a failing grade. Kaiser Foundation Launches Website to Explain the Health Care Reform LawSeptember 21, 2010 - Posted by The Leadership Conference The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation has launched a new website that provides a comprehensive explanation of the recently enacted health care reform law. The website contains a detailed summary of the law, a timeline showing when the law's many provisions go into effect, and up-to-date-analysis on the implementation of the law, which can be browsed by topic and state. Other useful tools on the website include reports, government resources, and public opinion polls. |
Amicus BriefsMinimum Coverage Provision The Leadership Conference has joined the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union in filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court arguing that the minimum coverage provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is clearly constitutional and, in fact, advances equal opportunity and liberty for millions of disadvantaged Americans. Medicaid Expansion Provision The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights has also signed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the Medicaid Expansion Provision of the Affordable Care Act. The brief outlines U.S. obligations under international treaties to address disparities in both access to and quality of coverage and care. In its statement of interest, The Leadership Conference said the Medicaid Expansion Provision “will lead to broader access to quality health care by the most vulnerable segments of society, including children, people of color, women, seniors, and people with disabilities.” The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case in March 26-28. Campaigns
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