Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2014

CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, 213-400-7822, [email protected]

NILC: House Bill Takes Another Step Toward Health Equity for All

WASHINGTON — Health care champions Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Donna Christensen (D-VI) made a bold statement in favor of health equity today by introducing the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2014 (HEAA).

The measure, which was introduced on behalf of the Congressional Tri-Caucus (the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus), seeks to ensure that everyone living in the U.S. has access to affordable health coverage. It also would improve meaningful access to health care and coverage for people with limited English proficiency, create jobs in the growing health care sector, and increase investments in innovative health delivery methods and technologies to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs.

The HEAA builds on the foundation of the Affordable Care Act and further advances measures to address and eliminate health and health care disparities experienced by the growing numbers of immigrant, minority, and underserved communities in the U.S. Below is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center:

“The Affordable Care Act’s first year of open enrollment served as a sobering reminder of the fact that for millions of Americans — native-born and immigrant alike — the promise of quality, affordable health care remains unrealized. While millions now have coverage, too many others have been shut out of access to affordable health care.

“That’s why legislation such as the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2014 is so important. This proposal will increase access to quality coverage for all Americans, regardless of where they were born or how much money they have.

“We will continue to work hard — with members of Congress, with community organizations, and with health care providers and advocates — to make sure that the sound proposals outlined in the HEAA become reality.”

# # #