Latino health in jeopardy without healthcare now

Opinion: Waiting for healthcare reform puts Latino health in jeopardy
By Adrian Perez, The Latino Journal E-News, August 17, 2009

There is no question that the nation is in need of healthcare reform and it really doesn't matter who or which party writes it as long as it can cast a net large enough to protect the millions now without any healthcare. Latinos would greatly benefit from such legislation, provided it is fair and written with people's health in mind.

As the public debate focuses on moral components and total cost, there appears to be total indifference as to when it would be implemented and what mechanisms are in place to balance those portions of the law that fail, like the growing true costs of triage treatment and medications.

The proposed Healthcare Reform Act is being hastily rushed through Congress, on its way to certain signature by President Obama. However, it would not go into effect until 2013. Why? The need for such reform is now. Yet, Congress doesn't feel it would be essential to implement it until 4 years from now. With Latinos facing a major health crisis called "obesity," a problem that increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses that cause early death, healthcare has become ever more urgent.

Is obesity among Latinos preventable? Of course, but only through proper and early medical care intervention. But, since this act doesn't go into effect until 2013, many Latinos will continue to use emergency rooms for healthcare, receiving more intrusive and expensive medical care.

Congress should pass the Healthcare Reform Act, but it should include immediate implementation. Waiting for its implementation gives the appearance healthcare reform is not that urgent. In the meantime, the patient is flat lining.