Latino Health Policy Assembly Set for September in Portland

Portland, Ore.--Join the Oregon Latino Health Coalition and CAUSA, Oregon's Statewide Immigrant Rights Coalition in Portland for a Latino Health Policy Assembly on September 23rd

The purpose of this assembly is to bring together policy makers, healthcare advocates and legislators to discuss:

Legislation that would expand access for uninsured Latino children to the Healthy Kids Program

Increase of state funding for safety net clinics and community clinics, amplifying their ability to serve more uninsured families across Oregon

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Poll shows Latinos support Immigration and Health Care Reforms

The New Mexico Independent reports:

• "62 percent said it was either “extremely” or “very” important that an immigration reform bill be passed by the upcoming midterms in November of 2010.


• 73 percent say it is “extremely” or “very” important that health care legislation be passed and signed by President Barack Obama by the same midterms. And 67 percent of Latinos polled believe that health care reform is more important than immigration reform legislation.

The full article can be read here. There you can find a link to the survey results.

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End of Life Healthcare more for Hispanics and Blacks

According to a report published in Archives of Internal Medicine journal, Hispanic decendents and Blacks pay more for end of life healthcare compared to with whites.

An article from U.S. News & World Report , Minorities Have Higher End-of-Life Costs, says the average cost for Hispanic patients in those final months of life was $31,702, compared with $26,704 for blacks and $20,166 for whites. Compared with white costs for care was 30 percent higher for blacks and almost 60 percent more for Hispanics.

Researchers in the study also noted that, “minorities are less likely than whites to get aggressive medical care throughout their lives”.

For the results of the study, visit Archives of Internal Medicine journal by visiting this link.

H/T to VivirLatino for passing this along.

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HATE CRIMES AGAINST HISPANICS UP 25% SINCE 2004

FBI REPORT DOCUMENTS HATE CRIMES AGAINST LATINOS AT RECORD LEVEL

Hate crimes rise as anti-immigrant campaigns fill the airwaves and fuel anti-immigrant local ordinances

November 19, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Bureau of Investigation Hate Crimes Statistics Report released today demonstrates the real societal impact of anti-immigrant campaigns launched over the airwaves and through anti-immigrant legislation. The report shows a sharp increase in the number of hate crimes reported against Hispanics based on their ethnicity or national origin to the highest levels since the reports were first mandated by the Hate Crimes Statistics Act.

According to the report, in 2006, Hispanics comprised 62.8% of victims of crimes motivated by a bias toward the victims’ ethnicity or national origin. In 2004, the comparable figure was 51.5%. Since 2004, the number of victims of anti-Hispanic crimes increased by 25%.

“Anti-immigrant hatred heard on the radio and cable shows reaches America’s neighborhoods with real consequences,” stated MALDEF President and General Counsel John Trasviña. “Heightened anti-immigrant sentiment has blocked immigration reform and seeks to turn local police into immigration law enforcers thus making it more difficult for victims to report crimes.

The FBI report should serve as a wake up call to our nation’s leaders to take action on comprehensive immigration reform, reduce tensions and safeguard the basic civil rights and liberties of all Americans.”

The report goes on to demonstrate the steady growth of anti-Hispanic hate crimes after 2004.

2006: 576 anti-Hispanic crimes against 819 victims

2005: 522 anti-Hispanic crimes against 722 victims

2004: 475 anti-Hispanic crimes against 646 victims

2003: 426 anti-Hispanic crimes against 595 victims

2002: 480 anti-Hispanic crimes against 639 victims

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2006/index.html

Founded in 1968, MALDEF, the nation’s leading Latino legal organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through litigation, advocacy, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships.

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