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African American and Latino Health Care Leaders Criticize Schwarzenegger's Use of Medi-Cal Patients As Bargaining Chips in California Rx Proposal

Posted on: Thursday, 17 August 2006, 15:00 CDT

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- African American and Latino health care leaders gathered today in Los Angeles to protest Governor Schwarzenegger's California Rx proposal and the negative consequences it will have on the state's Medi-Cal patients. The leaders are troubled that California Rx will restrict access to prescription drugs for the state's poorest and sickest patients. They urged lawmakers not to jeopardize the health of the state's Medi-Cal patients and to reexamine the consequences of the Governor's plan.

The advocacy groups are protesting the so-called "Medi-Cal Hammer," an initiative in the Governor's plan which could result in the removal of critical and important medicines from the Medi-Cal program. In effect, the Governor is using the state's Medi-Cal patients as a bargaining chip and placing the most vulnerable patient populations at risk of losing access to needed medications. If Governor Schwarzenegger's plan is enacted, many Californians will be left without access to their much needed medicines or forced to substitute their current drugs for older and potentially less- effective medications.

"This program will have a disastrous effect on all of the Medi-Cal patients in the African American and Latino communities in California," said Loretta Jones, Executive Director of Healthy African American Families II (HAAF). "The Governor's plan will not only remove the medicines that the majority of our families depend on every day, but it will also further the existing health disparities gap in our communities. We cannot continue to victimize the victims."

HAAF was joined at today's press conference by the Pastor Ron Wright, Chair of the Mental Health Task Force of the Ecumenical Congress of Los Angeles, The Alliance of Minority Medical Associations and the LA Latino Diabetes Coalition.

Gary A. Puckrein, PhD., Executive Director, Alliance of Minority Medical Associations said, "Representing various multicultural medical associations, I have great concerns about any program that attempts to interfere with the treatment selection process by denying access to certain medication that doctors prescribe for their patients." Puckrein continued, "The focus should be on saving lives, not contributing to the health gap."

Leaders from key African American churches also voiced their concern over the Governor's proposal. "My congregation is adamantly opposed to any program that will restrict their choices when they go to the pharmacy to get their prescriptions filled," said Pastor Ron Wright, President of the Interdisciplinary Ecumenical Council of Black Churches. "Just as I look after the people of my congregation, the Governor should be doing the same for the state's most needy patients, not using them to achieve his personal political agenda."

Minister Glynis W. Devance, of Believe in God, Inc., is also a Medi-Cal beneficiary, and she, too, criticized the proposal. "As Medi-Cal patients, our health and well-being rely on our access to the most effective medications available," said Devance. "Our underserved populations still do not receive the care when and where they need it. If much needed medicines are removed from the Medi-Cal program, we will suffer a major set-back in the health care provided to our community."

Also participating in today's activities were leaders from Los Angeles' Latino health care community. "Latinos all too often receive inferior care due to the disparities that exist in our health care system," said Maria Castellanos, RN, CDE, Latino Community Diabetes Council of Los Angeles. "The Governor's program only serves to expand these disparities when we should be looking for solutions that allow all Latinos to get the health care they rightfully deserve."

Healthy African American Families II is a non-profit, community-serving agency. Our mission is to improve the health outcomes of the African American and Latino communities in Los Angeles County. Enhancing the quality of care, and advance in social progress through education, training, and collaborative partnering with community, academia, researchers, and government.

Healthy African American Families II; Alliance of Minority Medical

CONTACT: Eric Evans, +1-323-230-6693, for Alliance of Minority MedicalAssociations; or Angela Young-Brinn of Healthy African American Families II,+1-323-292-2002

Source: PRNewswire

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