2016 -- S 2919

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LC005811

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING APRIL, 2016, TO BE "HEALTH DISPARITY MONTH" IN THE STATE OF

RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Metts, Felag, Miller, and Paiva Weed

     Date Introduced: April 27, 2016

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, Despite notable progress in the overall health of our state, there are

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continuing health disparities in the burden of illness and death experienced by certain racial and

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ethnic groups, as compared to the population of the state as a whole; and

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     WHEREAS, Health is greatly influenced by the social and physical environments in

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which people live. These environments can create a disparity in the health statuses of groups of

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people; and

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     WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, the prevalence of being uninsured, having no doctor,

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experiencing cost barriers to seeing a doctor, and having had no checkup in the past 12 months

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are highest among Hispanic adults compared with all other racial/ethnic groups; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition, the infant mortality rate for African-American Rhode Islanders

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is almost double the state average (11.2 vs. 6.6 per 1,000 live births), and the diabetes rate for

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Hispanic adults is 11.3 percent, compared to 7.2 percent for white adults; and

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     WHEREAS, Nationwide, minorities are more likely to die from cancer, cardiovascular

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disease, stroke, chemical dependency, diabetes, infant mortality, violence, and, in recent years,

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acquired immunodeficiency syndrome than non-minorities suffering from those same illnesses;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Health equity means everyone has an equal opportunity to take advantage of

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resources that will help them live a long, healthy life; and

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     WHEREAS, Working toward health equity means reducing differences in health

 

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outcomes between different groups in a population. Determinants to health equity include health

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care utilization and access, patient attitudes toward health services, levels of unemployment,

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language barriers, the availability of public transportation in a community, and the availability of

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healthy food; and

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     WHEREAS, Achieving health equity requires creating equal opportunities for health by

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eliminating health disparities, encouraging more minorities in the health care workforce, assuring

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healthy childhood development, preventing and controlling disease and disability, and working to

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make the environment healthy; now, therefore, be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby proclaims April, 2016, to be "Health Disparity Month" in the state; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby recognizes the need to reduce health disparities in

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our state and encourages all health organizations and Rhode Islanders to conduct appropriate

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programs and activities to promote healthfulness in minority and other communities experiencing

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health disparities; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director

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Designee of the Department of Health.

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LC005811

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