CBCF Braintrust to Facilitate Health Care Tour
Washington, DC (PRWEB) July 31, 2013 -- The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Health Braintrust will present key information that consumers will need to make effective use of critical provisions in the Affordable Health Care Act that go into effect in October 2013. The eight-city town hall-based tour “Making Good Health MY Reality” began on July 20 in the Virgin Islands and will offer information on insurance coverage as part of the new mandate as well as expanded community-based health care.
Topics of discussion will include Medicaid expansion and eligibility; shifting from emergency rooms to community health centers and free clinics for primary and preventive care; and a separate panel for small businesses. The events will also feature a health fair with free screenings, fitness and healthy cooking demonstrations and activities for children.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), approximately 32 million individuals including almost 7 million African Americans, will have access to affordable health care and coverage when the health insurance marketplace opens in October. “As our nation prepares to make health insurance more affordable for so many, CBCF wants to help inform people, especially those who will be most affected,” said A. Shuanise Washington, president and chief executive officer for CBCF. “During this town hall tour, residents will be able to talk with local and national experts who can assist them in connecting the dots and navigating this new health care environment,” she said.
The Foundation has been actively working toward ending health disparities. Over the years, CBCF has been involved in educating African Americans about preventing chronic disease through programs focused on obesity and diabetes. CBCF also published Understanding Healthcare Reform – A Community Guide for African Americans to underscore the provisions of the Affordable Care Act that are likely to have the greatest impact on improving their health. “Part of CBCF’s mission is to educate the public and help end disparities affecting the African-American population,” said Marjorie Innocent, Ph.D, vice president of research and programs at CBCF. “With people becoming more aware of how their health affects their quality of life, they want and need to have information that will help them make informed decisions about their health and health care.”
The CBCF Health Braintrust tour will visit the following cities:
• St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saturday, July 20, 2013
• Chicago, Illinois, Saturday, July 27, 2013
• Oakland, California, Saturday, August 3, 2013
• Dallas, Texas, Monday, August 19, 2013
• Miami, Florida, Friday, August 30 and Saturday, August 31, 2013
• Brooklyn, New York, Saturday, September 7, 2013
• Las Vegas, Nevada, Saturday, September 14, 2013
• Baltimore, Maryland, Saturday, September 14, 2013
Muriel Cooper, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, http://www.cbcfinc.org, (202) 263-2829, [email protected]
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