Press Release: Long Island Round Table to Discuss Health Disparities Black Long Islanders Face – Public -Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI)

April 30, 2024

Press Release: Long Island Round Table to Discuss Health Disparities Black Long Islanders Face

Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages Joins Advocates & Storytellers to Discuss Healthcare Disparities Long Islanders Experience

MINEOLA, LONG ISLAND — Yesterday, New York Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, Health & Welfare Council of Long Island President & CEO Vanessa Baird-Streeter, 1199 SEIU member Prince Pennington and Rebecca Charles, Harmony Healthcare Long Island Director of Operations, joined Protect Our Care New York to discuss a new report from Protect Our Care and the NAACP, detailing how the Inflation Reduction Act benefits Black Americans nationwide. Thanks to President Biden and Democrats in Congress, health care and prescription drugs are becoming more affordable for more people in the United States, and a record number of Black Americans have enrolled in low- or no-cost Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans. Black Americans disproportionately face higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, and barriers to accessing affordable care and medications. The Inflation Reduction Act is making health care costs more accessible by lowering premiums, negotiating costs on expensive drugs like Januvia and Jardiance, and capping the cost of insulin. Despite President Biden’s progress in lowering these costs, Congressional Republicans and their pharmaceutical allies are trying to reverse this progress by raising drug prices and making affordable care out of reach for millions, which would particularly harm Black Americans. Speakers highlighted how the IRA reduces disparities that Black Americans face in accessing care and must be protected as it leads to more positive health outcomes and creates a healthier future. “As a member of the Health Committee and Chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus, I commend the recent actions taken on both federal and state levels to address disparities in our healthcare system, said Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages. “However, our work is far from over. The appalling statistics on health outcomes for Black Americans demand our unwavering commitment to action. Communities of color on Long Island and across the state require investment proportional to the seriousness of this issue. The Inflation Reduction Act and state initiatives in the recently passed budget mark a meaningful first step toward rectifying these unacceptable health disparities. Let us continue to prioritize equity and justice in healthcare, ensuring that every individual receives the care and support they deserve.” “The Affordable Care Act and Inflation Reduction Act are helping to transform Black New Yorkers’ access to critical, quality care, helping to overcome health and economic disparities, and lowering costs,” said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, CEO of Health & Welfare Council of Long Island “ Now more than ever, it’s important to strengthen these protections in the face of calls to repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act. We’re committed to ensuring that all Long Islanders have access to affordable and quality care, receive the proper education needed to make their own health decisions, and have the ability to voice unjust practices in the healthcare system.” “Harmony Healthcare Long Island is proud to be a part of the conversation about how we can improve social determinants of health for Black Americans living on Long Island,” said Rebecca Charles, Director of Operations at Harmony Health Care Long Island. “Our practice believes in understanding and connecting with our specific patient population, and that means advocating for policies that improve care outcomes and reduce disparities. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, championed by President Biden and Democrats in Congress, healthcare and prescription drugs are becoming more affordable for more people in the United States. For Black Long Islanders who have historically been marginalized and faced roadblocks to receiving high quality, affordable healthcare, these lower costs are translating to better access to care.” “Healthcare is a human right, and Long Islanders’ access to affordable, quality and effective care should not be determined by your zip code or background. No one should have to wait months before being able to see a specialist or needing to choose between groceries or their co-pay,” said Prince Pennington, 1199SEIU Member and Radiology Technician. “The Inflation Reduction Act is a step in the right direction to help those who struggle with diabetes or cardiovascular disease receive the medication needed at an affordable rate.” “For many Black Americans, the disparities we face in our healthcare system go beyond visits to the primary care physician, highlighting the need for holistic care,” said Kiana Abbady, Long Island Progressive Coalition Board President. “From transportation to access to nutritious and quality food, our health is critically tied to the barriers we face each day. The Affordable Care Act and Inflation Reduction Act are helping to reduce the burden of high medical bills by providing access to life saving, high quality care.” You can watch the event here and read the NAACP and Protect Our Care Report detailing how the Inflation Reduction Act is lowering costs for Black Americans here. ### About Protect Our Care New York Protect Our Care New York is the state team for national advocacy nonprofit Protect Our Care, which is dedicated to making high-quality, affordable and equitable health care a right, and not a privilege, for everyone. Protect Our Care educates the public, influences policy, supports health care champions and holds politicians accountable. For more information, visit www.protectourcare.org

View All News