White House Officials, Lawmakers Discuss Racial Health Disparities, Higher Rates of HIV/AIDS Among Blacks

At a discussion on minority health issues at the White House this week, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the Obama administration is committed to addressing racial health care disparities, including the higher rates of HIV/AIDS among blacks, the AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. The White House issued a summary report indicating that blacks are more likely than whites to have certain conditions and diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Sebelius said the increasing rates of HIV/AIDS among blacks is one of "the most troubling" developments in U.S. health care. Separately, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus "warned Democratic leaders that any health care overhaul that ignores health gaps between whites and minorities will face stiff opposition," according to the AP/Post-Intelligencer. The 91 members of the caucuses said they will introduce legislation this week that includes their priorities for health care reform (Evans, AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 6/9).

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