How is the federal government making sure that all Americans are served fairly and equitably by the health care system and receive medication and treatment without class distinction?
In testimony before Congress in May 2001, Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher stated that disparities in the burden of illness and death continue to exist for African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Asian Pacific Islanders when compared with the U.S. population as a whole. According to Dr. Satcher, the infant mortality rate for African Americans is more than double that of white citizens. The rate of death due to heart disease is 40 percent higher for African Americans than for whites, while for all cancers it is 30 percent higher. Lastly, the death rate among African Americans due to HIV/AIDS is more than seven times that for whites, just slightly higher than the homicide rate of six times. Mortality rates for other minorities mirror these disturbing trends.[2] A report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) argues that [d]espite the nations vast riches and enormous resources, certain populations continue to fall outside the med
