Speaking at a Rev. Al Sharpton-led National Action Network event on Thursday in Washington, D.C., HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius linked the Patient Protection and Accountable Care Act to the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.
Sec. Sebelius referenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the event, attended by some of the nation's leading social justice leaders in the black community.
"Healthcare inequalities have been one of the most persistent forms of injustice," Sec. Sebelius said at the event. "Now is not the time to turn back."
The HHS secretary noted several ways the PPACA has benefited African Americans:
Sec. Sebelius referenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the event, attended by some of the nation's leading social justice leaders in the black community.
"Healthcare inequalities have been one of the most persistent forms of injustice," Sec. Sebelius said at the event. "Now is not the time to turn back."
The HHS secretary noted several ways the PPACA has benefited African Americans:
- 410,000 young black adults across the country now have healthcare insurance because they can stay on their parent's plans until the age of 26.
- An estimated 5.5 million African Americans with private insurance get recommended preventive care without having to pay co-pay or deductibles.
- 4.5 million black Americans on Medicare have access to new benefits like free preventive care and prescription drug savings.
- More funding has been pumped into 1,100 community health centers across the nation.
- A record number of children have health insurance.
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