Frist Pledges to "Close Health Care Gap"

May 19, 2003
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) is pledging to "close the health care gap" through programs that he says would increase access to health care and boost funding for research and programs to combat health disparities for minority and low-income populations.

Frist unveiled the legislation following a weekend commencement address at the Morehouse School of Medicine in his home state. He said his bill will expand health coverage to the uninsured through tax credits, provide grants to promote broad local health awareness and prevention programs and expand the mission of HHS' Office of Minority Health.

Frist said his "Closing the Health Care Gap Act of 2003" would be introduced in the U.S. Congress in the form of various bills that would seek to expand access to health care access, diversify the medical work force, and promote disease prevention.

"Injustice or inequality is a cancer that no longer can be allowed to occur at any level," Frist said in his address.

U.S. blacks and other minorities have higher rates of a number of diseases, including diabetes, stroke, cancer and AIDS, than whites. Former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, who accompanied Frist at the news conference, also said there were wide disparities in quality of care, with minorities tending to get shoddier treatment.

Republicans are trying to build support among black voters, who traditionally vote Democratic. Frist replaced Trent Lott of Mississippi as Senate Majority Leader when Lott resigned after making racially offensive remarks at a birthday party for Strom Thurmond.

The bill is the fourth piece of legislation sponsored by Frist in the last six years that addresses health disparities, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported. Previous legislation proposed by Frist has provided funding for training minority and low-income individuals in health professions, authorized research grants to historically black medical schools and created a National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities at the NIH and a grant and endowment program for research on health disparities.