health care reform (4)

Fidel Castro slams U.S. for battle over healthcare

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro criticized the United States on Wednesday for being willing to spend billions on its high-tech military but finding it difficult to approve healthcare reform that would protect its poor people. He wrote in a commentary published on a state-run Internet site that huge military budgets are approved easily by the U.S. Congress but U.S. President Barack Obama is struggling to convince federal lawmakers to pass a bill that would "deliver health services to 50 million Americans that don't have them." "What hope can that society offer the world?" he asked. READ FULL STORY
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WH Tailors Health Reform Message for Hispanics

The White House is expanding its push for health care reform to Hispanics with a Spanish-language version of its "Reality Check" health care Web site. The site provides all of the videos featured on the English version, with the option of adding Spanish subtitles. There is one more video from Luis Miranda, the director of Hispanic media for the White House, who in Spanish introduces the site and lays out President Obama's arguments for comprehensive reform. Earlier this month, the White House invited 10 Latino news media outlets to a roundtable discussion with the president according to New America Media, to talk about health care as well as other subjects including immingration, the economy and education. "Latinos are by far the largest group of uninsured," Mr. Obama reportedly said. "Passing reform that addresses the vulnerability of this community is a critical pillar for a new economy." According to the White House, 34 percent of the Latino population lacks health care insurance. Latinos are also one of the fastest-growing groups of voters in the country. The Obama White House has engaged in aggressive outreach to the Hispanic community and has held at least one bilingual press conference, the White House points out. READ FULL STORY
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The health care needs of an estimated 6.8 million undocumented and uninsured immigrants "has become the third rail in the debate over health-care reform," The Chicago Tribune reports. Some health care advocates have proposed broadening the proposals before Congress to include this population, but "fierce opposition has kept the idea off the table." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has "emphasized that illegal immigrants would not be covered under the current proposals." And the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has called for coverage "only for 'legal, law-abiding' immigrants who pay their 'fair share' for health care." READ FULL STORY
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Hispanics watching health care debate closely

Perched at the edge of an exam table, Delmira Maravilla is anxious for a check-up — and for a timeline on the president's promise of health care for all Americans. She's paying out of pocket for the exam, and like one-third of Hispanics, the mother of nine doesn't have health insurance. Latinos like this immigrant from El Salvador have much to gain if the legislation taking shape in Washington passes. Among the major ethnic groups, they are the least likely to have health coverage through work. And Hispanics often face language and cultural hurdles to getting good-quality health services. They're far less likely to have a regular health-care provider, and to get the kind of routine screening that prevents serious health problems. READ FULL STORY
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