Project CHARGE: Coalition for Health Access to Reach Greater Equity

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Project CHARGE Coalition for Health Access to
Reach Greater Equity

• Wayne Ho
• Executive Director
• Coalition for Asian American Children and Families

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Outline

• Summary of Health Through Action (HTA) Initiative
• Summary of Project CHARGE
• Who we are
• Case for Health Reform
• Capacity Building
• Activities
• Lessons Learned

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Health Through Action Community Partnerships
Grant Program
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HTA Goals

• Strengthen community capacity to address local
  health needs
• Build a national network for AA and NHPI health
• Strengthen national policy and advocacy efforts
• Increase data collection and research on AA and
  NHPI health
• Support the development and implementation of a
  NHPI health agenda

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HTA Framework
Local communities
Healthy Communities Reduce Eliminate
Disparities Equitable Access to Quality
Healthcare
Capacity Visibility Resources Policy Systems
Health agenda(s) Network/Partnerships Data Program
s Services Policy/Advocacy
Optimal Health Well-being
APIAHF national organizations
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Health Through Action Community Partnerships
Grant Program

• HTA Arizona
• HTA California (AHS)
• HTA Georgia
• HTA Hawaii
• HTA Minnesota
• HTA New York
• HTA Ohio
• HTA Texas

• HTA California (APIDC)
• HTA California (SNNA)
• HTA Rhode Island
• HTA - Utah

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HTA-NY

• Project CHARGE
• (Coalition for Health Access to Reach Greater
  Equity)
• 14 partners
• Ensure access to health care
• Expansion of health insurance coverage
• Reimbursement of enabling services

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Who are the Partners?
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Context Case for Health Reform
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Asian Americans in New York City
The Asian American population is 999,030 and
nearly 12 of the City.
1 out of 2 is born into poverty
4 out of 5 are foreign-born
More than 50 of the over 200 languages spoken in
the City are Asian languages.
Asian Americans have the highest rate (28) of
linguistic isolation
1 out of 5 does not have health insurance
Source Asian American Federation, Census
Information Center, American Community Survey 2006
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Crisis Opportunity

• Twin Crisis in NYS
• Deficit in Billions/Cuts in Programs Services
• Wall Street Crash
• Decreased funding for CBOs
• New leadership
• Renewed commitment to public health
• Advocacy playing a bigger role for social
  services

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The Case for Health Reform

• 47 million people in the U.S. who are uninsured
• 1 in 5 people have trouble paying medical bills
• America spends the most money on health care than
  any other nation yet health disparities persist
• In NYS, premiums increased 90 from years 2000-
  2009
• Voters Health is a top personal economic concern
• Source Families USA (2008). Trust for Americas
  Health Center for Financing, Access and Cost
  Trends, AHRQ, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
  Insurance Component (2000, 2006, 2009).

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The Case for Health Reform

• From perspective of Asian Americans,
• 2.3 million AA uninsured nationally
• Highest uninsurance rates among Koreans (31),
  Vietnamese (21), and South Asians (20)
• 1 in 5 Asian Americans in NYC has been uninsured.
  
• Overwhelmingly, majority (90) of uninsured AA in
  NYC are foreign-born.
• 76 in favor of making affordable health
  insurance and basic medical care available to all
  persons, regardless of immigration status.
• Sources Kaiser Family Foundation (2008), NYC
  DOHMH, Community Health Survey (2007), and
• APIAHF (2009)

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Policy Advocacy Capacity of Individual
Organizations
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Capacity Building
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Community Health Care Chats

• Why? Gather stories on the concerns and opinions
  of Asian Americans on health reform
• Why? Develop recommendations and to inform
  elected officials about needs of Asian Americans
• Who? Asian Americans (18 years and older) living
  in NYC
• What? Current situation
• Perception of Insurance
• Costs of Care
• Suggestions for Better Access
• Expectations, Wants for Health Care Reform

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Results Community Health Care Chats

• Number of Community Discussions 16
• Total Number of Participants 129
• Groups Represented
• Bangladeshi
• Chinese
• Filipino
• Japanese
• Korean
• Nepali
• Vietnamese
• Pan-Asian
• Adult Coverage
• Uninsured (21)
• Private Insurance (30)
• Public Insurance (49)

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Results Community Health Care Chats

• Childrens Coverage
• Uninsured (4)
• Private Insurance (21)
• Public Insurance (75)
• Seen a doctor in past 12 months
• Yes (90)
• No (10)
• Reason for doctor visit
• Routine Check-Up (57)
• Emergency (18)
• Child or Family Member (9)
• Other (17)
• Main Themes
• High cost of insurance, care and prescriptions
• Lack of languages services
• Lack of information dissemination

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Action Next Steps

• Continue coalition evaluation capacity building
• Organize meetings, calls, and letters to elected
  officials
• Build relationships with decision makers and
  other advocates
• Connect to and participate in broader movement
  for health reform
• Conduct outreach information dissemination
  through convenings, reports, and media

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Lessons Learned

• Flexibility
• Political Feasibility
• Role of Lead Organization Partners
• Expand Beyond Health
• New Technologies
• Technical Assistance
• Role of Evaluation
• Transitions/Changes

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For more information

• Noilyn Abesamis-Mendoza, MPH
• Manager, Health Policy
• Coalition for Asian American Children and
  Families (CACF)
• 50 Broad Street, 18th Floor
• New York, NY 10004
• [phone]
• www.cacf.org
• namendoza_at_cacf.org