FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                     CONTACT:

October 1, 2008                                                                                                                                Janet M. Caldwell

                                                                                                                                               615.500.0632

                                                                                                                                                          jcaldwell@mmc.edu

Meharry Medical College to Host

Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Briefing to Focus on

Health Reform and Equity: Which Plan Should We Choose?

Health Care Plan Proposals

of the

2008 Democratic and Republican Presidential Nominees

“Implications for Improving Access, Affordability and Quality for America’s Minorities”

Monday, October 6, 2008

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

at

Meharry Medical College

1005 Dr. D.B. Todd, Jr. Blvd.

Nashville, TN 37208

in

S.S. Kresge Learning Resources Center (D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd and Albion)

Lecture Hall #3

(Nashville, Tenn.) – On the eve on the second presidential debate, to be held at Belmont University, Tennessee state and local leaders will meet at Meharry Medical College on to encourage dialogue about the presidential nominees’ health care reform proposals. Both public and private sector leaders will share the findings of the prestigious Washington, D.C. based Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Health Policy Institute’s cutting-edge report and will discuss innovative approaches already underway in Tennessee to address health disparities that promote policies and programs that improve health and quality of life. The Joint Center is the nation’s premier African American “think tank” addressing a myriad of economic, social and political issues facing the nation.

Exit polls from previous elections suggest that health care has been one of the top five issues affecting Americans’ votes in three out of four presidential contests since 1992, while the economy and jobs has almost always been the number one issue.Specifically, health care ranked fifth in 2004, and when combined with Medicare and prescription drug-related issues, it was the second most pressing issue in the year 2000. Regarding health care, the public has two concerns: the cost of health insurance and the problems ofthe uninsured. Both Democratic and Republican nominees have set forth proposals to expand health coverage to the uninsured, control health spending and promote the delivery of high-quality care.

This 2008 Presidential election has stimulated a dialogue in the nation about health reform, but it remains to be seen how significant the debate about health will be in the upcoming Presidential debates. As both Obama and McCain put forth proposals on key aspects of health care, they are raising the profile of health care reform and beginning to shape the policy agenda of the next four years.

The Joint Center Health Policy Institute report is organized into four sections which will be highlighted during the briefing:

• Major factors that limit access to care, raise the price of health care programs and perpetuate internationally low performance–all factors which contribute to racial/ethnic disparities.
• Description of the disparities that result from our current health system in the context of access, cost and quality.
• Comparison of Obama and McCain health care platforms and how the candidates seek to address access, affordability and quality concerns. Additionally, the report analyzes the respective candidates’ plans for reducing racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care.
• Examples of past U.S. Presidents whose leadership generated national reform to reduce racial/ethnic health disparities. The report also highlights health care reforms that the next president can pursue that will help make health care more affordable and accessible to all Americans, regardless of race or ethnicity.

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