Frist to Propose Health Law Aimed at Minorities

Associated Press

May 17, 2003

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Saturday said he would sponsor legislation aiming to eliminate health disparities among minority populations, including a boost in federal support for historically black medical schools.

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 over the next year that would seek to expand access to health care access, diversify the medical work force, and promote disease prevention.

Much more work needs to be done on researching health disparities involving minority and poor populations, the Tennessee Republican said at a news conference after his commencement address at Morehouse College's medical school.

Frist, a heart-lung transplant surgeon, said the legislation would include a boost in federal funding for historically black U.S. medical schools such as Morehouse and improve coordination among U.S. health agencies. He said it might also offer tax credits to help Americans obtain health insurance.

Statistics show that 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.

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

Frist's visit to Morehouse, one of the country's most prestigious black colleges, comes as the U.S. Republican Party seeks to increase its support among black voters, who overwhelmingly vote Democratic.

As Senate majority leader, Frist replaced Trent Lott of Mississippi, who resigned after making racially offensive remarks last year at a birthday party for Strom Thurmond.