Sounding the trumpet on health care reform - Last Word - Brief Article

Black Issues in Higher Education, May 23, 2002 by Maxine Agazie

The current thriller movie "John Q.," starring the Oscar-winning Denzel Washington, poignantly calls attention to the plight of millions of Americans lacking health coverage. The movie focuses on a decent, hard-working, responsible African American father whose son needs a heart transplant but his insurance will not cover the procedure. The movie exposes an issue that has been constantly swept under the rug: Even those with health insurance ale often seriously under insured and have difficulty paying for prescription medicine.

Historically Black colleges and universities have a major role to play in the fight for quality health care. As institutions that are concerned about the education and well-being of African Americans, HBCUs must make the issue of health care their issue as well.

Startling statistics portray how the dilemma of uninsured Americans, many of whom are African Americans, is worsening. In the year 2000, approximately 39 million Americans did not have health coverage. In 2001, 2.2 million Americans lost their health insurance coverage, according to reports. Due to current policies and politics, 2003 looks even grimmer for many Americans, especially African Americans, in being able to receive proper health care.

As HBCUs seek to recruit students, they must be cognizant of how future enrollees and their parents are being negatively affected by the escalating costs of health care. They must lead the fight in calling attention to the plight of the many hard-working African Americans who ate caught in the unpleasant situation of not being eligible for Medicaid or able to afford the high costs of prescription medication, as well as other health care issues. Skyrocketing costs of medication have many working-class people unable to purchase drugs prescribed to them by their doctors. As the movie "John Q." so dramatically points out, those who work are not eligible for Medicaid benefits but they are barely making it from paycheck to paycheck. Many have to juggle purchasing food, shelter or transportation with being able to go to the doctor or buy the medication prescribed. Even those who receive public financial benefits are discovering that these benefits do not pay for certain procedures or for the full cost of these procedures. And thanks to the bureaucratic runaround, those inquiring about their health benefits often face a challenge in getting their questions answered.

As watchdogs of racism and other atrocities affecting the African American community, HBCUs must "sound the trumpet" regarding those lacking proper health care coverage. These institutions have a duty to educate, advocate and serve as change agents in the arena of health care. All majors can contribute to this task but the following two majors, health care administration and social work, must take the lead. Health care administrators can work to influence and change ineffective policy. Social workers serve as change agents, advocates, lobbyists, planners, resource allocators, outreach workers and champions for those who are socially and economically oppressed. Social workers understand the system's theory and they seek to empower people.

As HBCUs tread into the new millennium, they must become the voices demanding proper health care coverage for all Americans. After all, health is the cornerstone of human well-being. As vision statements are being written by HBCUs, something must be included regarding proper health care coverage. Yes, a mind is a terrible thing to waste, but so is a body. And HBCUs need strong, healthy and vibrant students to continue the tradition of vibrant colleges and universities.

--Dr. Maxine Agazie is a professor in the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work at Albany State University in Georgia.