Washington, D.C., February 1, 2005 -
"The American Public Health Association urges President Bush in his State of the Union address tomorrow and in his proposed budget to underscore our nation's commitment to protecting the public's health. Three key areas requiring particular attention are improving access to health care, strengthening our public health system and eliminating disparities in health.
"Nearly 45 million Americans now go without health insurance. We encourage the president to acknowledge this growing crisis and support efforts to expand health care coverage to reach all Americans. We also urge the president to protect entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid from cuts in funding. Over 53 million Americans rely on Medicaid for their health care, including long-term services. Cuts in this critical program will impair the medical care of some of our most vulnerable populations, including low-income children, seniors, pregnant women and people with disabilities.
"We call on the president to protect funding for basic public health services, which also has a direct impact on funding and staffing for disease outbreaks, reducing the impact of chronic diseases and bioterrorism preparedness efforts. Last year's shortage of the influenza vaccine exposed shortcomings in our vaccination production and distribution system. With the growing threat of an influenza pandemic, we must ensure that our public health systems are not compromised.
"We also urge President Bush to support efforts to eliminate disparities in health outcomes and care. The evidence is clear that many in our nation, particularly racial and ethnic minorities, women and low-income Americans, receive a lower quality of health care with higher rates of illness and disability. All Americans are entitled to receive adequate, affordable care from health professionals who reflect and understand their needs."
"The health ills facing our nation are significant, yet cures exist. The American Public Health Association looks forward to working with the administration and Congress in finding solutions to better protect the public's health."
Editor's Note: Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, executive director, American Public Health Association, will be available by telephone immediately following the State of the Union address to comment on health care issues discussed by President Bush. For more information or to set up an interview, please contact Sabrina Jones at 202-777-2509, office, 202-253-2147, cell, or sabrina.jones@apha.org.