*Watch the event here*

Mineola, NY – Today, Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages joined healthcare professionals, union members, and advocates to highlight improvements to healthcare in the Inflation Reduction Act and the work that remains to be done to improve health outcomes for Black Long Islanders in our healthcare system. This comes after the release of a report by the NAACP and Protect Our Care highlighting how the Inflation Reduction Act’s healthcare provisions benefit Black Americans.

Black Americans face several disparities compared to their white counterparts in our healthcare system. Higher rates of chronic disease, including diabetes and heart disease, exist in Black and Brown communities, combined with more significant financial challenges that complicate access to the medications that treat these conditions. This disparity leads to greater mortality rates from such conditions among Black Americans. Many of these deaths are caused simply because of a lack of access to healthcare services and medication- an entirely preventable situation.

The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Biden, made significant progress in reducing costs and improving access to health insurance and prescription drugs for Medicare recipients and those with Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans. This law will dramatically help Black seniors with health-related costs in particular. The new authorizations for Medicare drug price negotiation will cut the price of life-saving drugs for millions. New subsidies for ACA plans will lower premiums and expand access at a time when enrollment for Black Americans in ACA plans is already at a record high.

New York State has also made remarkable strides in fighting these health disparities. The recently passed budget for Fiscal Year 2025 has eliminated copays for insulin, which will help more Black New Yorkers access this essential medicine. The Black maternal mortality crisis has been a shameful stain on our healthcare system, and recent action in this budget has improved access to doulas, whose presence during childbirth has been shown to decrease the rates of complications and death. More must be done going forward to build on the progress made by New York State and the Biden administration, and the actions taken so far lay essential groundwork for closing the gaps that persist in our healthcare system.

“As a member of the Health Committee and Chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus, I commend the recent actions taken on both federal and state levels to address disparities in our healthcare system, said Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages. “However, our work is far from over. The appalling statistics on health outcomes for Black Americans demand our unwavering commitment to action. Communities of color on Long Island and across the state require investment proportional to the seriousness of this issue. The Inflation Reduction Act and state initiatives in the recently passed budget mark a meaningful first step toward rectifying these unacceptable health disparities. Let us continue to prioritize equity and justice in healthcare, ensuring that every individual receives the care and support they deserve.”

“The Affordable Care Act and Inflation Reduction Act are helping to transform Black New Yorkers’ access to critical, quality care, helping to overcome health and economic disparities, and lowering costs,” said CEO of Vanessa Baird-Streeter Health & Welfare Council. “Now more than ever, it’s important to strengthen these protections in the face of calls to repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act. We’re committed to ensuring that all Long Islanders have access to affordable and quality care, receive the proper education needed to make their own health decisions, and have the ability to voice unjust practices in the healthcare system.”

“Harmony Healthcare Long Island is proud to be a part of the conversation about how we can improve social determinants of health for Black Americans living on Long Island,” said Rebecca Charles, Director of Operations at Harmony Health Care Long Island. “Our practice believes in understanding and connecting with our specific patient population, and that means advocating for policies that improve care outcomes and reduce disparities. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, championed by President Biden and Democrats in Congress, healthcare and prescription drugs are becoming more affordable for more people in the United States. For Black Long Islanders who have historically been marginalized and faced roadblocks to receiving high quality, affordable healthcare, these lower costs are translating to better access to care.”

“Healthcare is a human right, and Long Islanders’ access to affordable, quality and effective care should not be determined by your zip code or background. No one should have to wait months before being able to see a specialist or needing to choose between groceries or their co-pay,” said Prince Pennington, 1199SEIU Member and Radiology Technician. “The Inflation Reduction Act is a step in the right direction to help those who struggle with diabetes or cardiovascular disease receive the medication needed at an affordable rate.”

“For many Black Americans, the disparities we face in our healthcare system go beyond visits to the primary care physician, highlighting the need for holistic care,” said Kiana Abbady, Long Island Progressive Coalition Board President. “From transportation to access to nutritious and quality food, our health is critically tied to the barriers we face each day. The Affordable Care Act and Inflation Reduction Act are helping to reduce the burden of high medical bills by providing access to life saving, high quality care.”