Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) holds 2010 Fall Health Braintrust

The 2010 CBC Fall Health Braintrust: “Working Together to Ensure Appropriate Health Care Reform Implementation” highlighted the importance of appropriate implementation of key health care reform provisions in improving the health, health care and wellness of all currently underserved individuals and communities. The Health Braintrust was held during the 2010 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference.  Expert panelists focused on the provisions in the law that have already been implemented and those that will be implemented over the course of the next year.
Also announced was the creation of a Health Equity Leadership Commission that will work on health disparity elimination. Organizations represented on the commission include: Premier Healthcare Alliance, National Medical Association, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, First Focus, Novo Nordisk and the National Health Law Program, among others. Other sessions explored several health and health care topics – such as genomics, school based dental care, diabetes, clinical trial diversity, comparative effectiveness research, cancer, and the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act.
The all day event underscored the crucial role grassroots organizations, the Congressional Black Caucus and Congresswoman Donna Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands played in getting health disparities included in healthcare reform. The Braintrust closed with a discussion on how grassroots organization will be instrumental in guiding implementation to make sure that provisions are fully funded and executed based on their original intent.
For more information about the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference visit their website: http://www.cbcfinc.org/alc-2010.html and for more information about the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust visit their website: http://www.donnachristensen.house.gov/SinglePage.aspx?NewsID=1256