NCLR Decries Move by Florida Governor to Ban Health Care Law Outreach at County Health Departments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               Contact: 
September 13, 2013                                                          Camila Gallardo
                                                                                       (305) 215-4259
                                                                                       cgallardo@nclr.org
                               

WASHINGTON, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) today criticized a move by Florida Governor Rick Scott that would prevent residents of the state from accessing information related to the new health care law at County Health Department offices.  The Affordable Care Act open enrollment period for uninsured Americans begins October 1, 2013 and stretches through March 2014, standing to benefit millions of the state’s residents.  According to Census figures, Florida ranks number two in the nation among states with the largest population of uninsured; one in four Floridians and one in three Hispanics lack health coverage.

“The state directive to ban patient navigator outreach activities that would put more health care options in the hands of Florida’s 3.8 million uninsured is irresponsible,” said Jennifer Ng’andu, Director, Health and Civil Rights Policy Projects, NCLR.  “The political dynamics of Affordable Care Act implementation will once again prevent the public from receiving critical information that is meant to improve the health and well-being of Florida’s residents.  The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land; as a nation, we should be doing everything in our power to harness its assets for vulnerable communities.”

By law, the patient navigators involved with outreach are required to undergo significant training, perform their duties in an unbiased and culturally and linguistically appropriate manner and uphold the privacy of the individuals they assist.  The next step of implementation of the Affordable Care Act promises to benefit the Hispanic population most, yet a lack of information and outreach stand as barriers to the successful integration of many into the new insurance system.  The state directive adds yet another obstacle to those trying hardest to fix health care in the U.S., but groups supporting the law’s implementation won’t be deterred.

“NCLR will continue to work with partner groups and government stakeholders to maximize the benefit of the Affordable Care Act for vulnerable populations.  Our only imperative is that we deliver accurate and trustworthy information to the Latino community and eradicate the uninsurance problem in this country,” concluded Ng’andu. 

For more information on the Affordable Care Act and enrollment, please visit www.healthcare.gov (English) or www.cuidadodesalud.gov (Spanish), or call 1-800-318-2596 for assistance in English and Spanish.  NCLR also offers brochures in English and Spanish that provide an overview of the law.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans.  For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

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