The principle of expanding opportunities for all Americans, particularly within communities disproportionately affected by lack of adequate healthcare, is consistent with the mission and vision of the Association of Black Psychologists. We applaud and support President Obama’s efforts to promote health care reform and secure comprehensive health care. We understand the bill, in its current iteration, may not be perfect, but it is significantly better than the alternative - to do nothing.

Efforts to reform our current health care system are occurring amid consistent data exposing continued health disparities with African Americans suffering the brunt of these disparities including lack of health care coverage. As a result African Americans are underrepresented in outpatient, prevention oriented medical care and overrepresented in hospital emergency rooms.  Moreover, the diseases currently impacting the African American community exponentially are in part a result of lack of access to care and insufficient resources to pay for medical coverage and necessary prescriptions.  These trends not only impact physical health care but also influence access to and receipt of mental health treatment as well.

Comprehensive health care reform can facilitate the health promotion and disease prevention outcomes so desperately needed by members of the African American community, and the nation as a whole. 

The time for reform of our current health care system is apparent with uncompromising clarity.  We celebrate the efforts of our membership who have written their Congressional and Senate Representatives demanding action in support of reform now.  We welcome this historic legislative action that will help improve access to health and mental health care.  

Sincerely,

Benson George Cooke, Ed.D.
National President