RE: HHS Report Distorts the Science of Healthcare Disparities

[Guest guest]

Very

revealing, even though not surprising, excerpts of federal policy under the

current administration as they are consistent with the claims to WMD.

The Texas

Education Miracle is finding its way to health care and will soon become the

magic bullet to inequities and disparities in all areas of federal policy. It is

all in the how you count and what you measure statistical theories evolving out

of the White House. The weapons of mass destruction have found their way into the

executive branch of our federal government and through the forces of osmosis have

permeated our legislative system and may take over the judicial system if there

are any retirements in that branch before next January.

Anyone with

a sense of social justice and even those of us with a touch of narcissism should

be alarmed about the manipulation to deceive coming out of federal government. The

short and long term implications of denial and neglect to health disparities,

even if there was to be an immediate closing of the borders – the perceived

source of the increase in health care cost to many, the health status of

minorities, particularly the historically underserved groups, coupled with the

many other inequities these communities also experience, will have economic and

social ramifications beyond what the chaos equated with the status of evolving “third

world” countries. Look at California and begin to focus in Oregon, the state

that has given birth to education and health care reform – as per those who

take pride on doing things the “Oregon Way” and are now bracing for the voice

of the people in deciding the outcome of an initiative that if rejected has the

potential of multiplying existing disparities manifold.

Some

social scientist noted that we had created an industry of poverty from which many

were reaping financial benefits (oops, this included those who work and do research

on poverty issues). Scary, isn’t it?

Alfonso

Alfonso López-Vasquez, Director

Community Partnerships & Diversity

Assistant Professor

Pacific University

2043 College Way

Forest Grove, OR 97116

(503) 352-3104

(503) 352-2291 (fax)

-----Original Message-----

From: Tina Castañares [mailto:tina.castanares@...]

Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004

9:45 PM

Migrant Health Research

egroup; Migrant Health News Group; me home

Subject: [ ]

HHS Report Distorts the Science of Healthcare Disparities

Of vital interest.

I have not yet had the opportunity to explore all the links.

I hope that as we do so, what we learn -- esp. as concerns migrant and

seasonal farmworkers -- will be shared with all.

tina.castanares@...

_________________________________________________________

Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 2:11 PM

Subject: FW: HHS Report Distorts the Science of Healthcare Disparities

In a June 2003 draft report, HHS scientists found that racial and ethnic

disparities in health care are " national problems " that are

" pervasive in

our health care system " and carry a significant " personal and

societal

price. " After review by political appointees, however, the final

version

contained none of these conclusions. Released December 23, 2003, the

National Healthcare Disparities Report is a case study in the manipulation

of science.

On January 13, 2004, the Special Investigations Division of the minority

staff of the Government Reform Committee released a report for eight

members

of Congress comparing the two versions of the report. These

members then wrote HHS Secretary to protest the manipulation of

science on healthcare disparities and to request copies of all drafts and

comments on the disparities report. The eight included:

- Rep. Henry A. Waxman, ranking member of the Government Reform Committee;

- Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus;

- Rep. Ciro D. , chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus;

- Rep. M. Honda, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American

Caucus;

- Del. Donna M. Christensen, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health

Braintrust;

- Rep. Hilda L. Solis, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Health

Task Force;

- Rep. Danny K. , secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus; and

- Rep. Dale E. Kildee, Democratic co-chair of the Congressional Native

American Caucus.

http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience/example_disparities.htm

________________________________

Look at the differences in the two reports:

BACKGROUND

Draft HHS exec. summary

http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience/pdfs/pdf_politics_and_science_disparities_rep_summ_draft.pdf

Final HHS exec. summary

http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience/pdfs/pdf_politics_and_science_disparities_rep_summ_final.pdf

MORE

Letter to HHS

http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience/pdfs/pdf_politics_and_science_disparities_hhs_let.pdf

Press Release

http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience/pdfs/pdf_politics_and_science_disparities_press.pdf

From:

http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience/example_disparities.htm

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