On March 18, from 1-2pm ET, The National Coalition on Health Care and West Health will co-host the first of a two-part, Hill briefing series: “The Burden of High Drug Prices on Communities of Color”
The first briefing will highlight how high drug prices, coverage gaps, and other systemic issues drive health inequities for communities of color. The briefing will feature several prominent speakers (biographies below) and updated data from West Health’s survey on drug accessibility and affordability. The briefing will focus on how COVID-19 has underscored the substantial impact that race and income have on health outcomes, exacerbated by inaccessible drugs and systemic barriers to coverage. The session will also discuss how previously proposed legislation would potentially impact communities of color and reduce health inequality.
The second briefing will focus on specific legislation later in the year (more details to come!).
Register for Part One Here.
Confirmed Speakers:
Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL)
Congresswoman Underwood serves Illinois’ 14th Congressional District and was sworn into the 116th U.S. Congress on January 3, 2019. Congresswoman Underwood is the first woman, the first person of color, and the first millennial to represent her community in Congress. She is also the youngest African American woman to serve in the United States House of Representatives.
Congressman Steven Horsford (D-NV)
Congressman Horsford serves Nevada’s 4th Congressional District was sworn into the 116th U.S. Congress on January 3, 2019, previously holding the position from 2013 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the Nevada Senate, representing the 4th district, in Clark County, from 2005 to 2013. Horsford was the first African American to serve as Majority Leader (2009–2013) and the first African American to represent Nevada in Congress.
Jamal Watkins, Vice President of Civic Engagement at the NAACP
Jamal R. Watkins serves as the Vice President of Civic Engagement at the NAACP, leading the Association’s efforts to maximize the African-American community’s participation and representation in our democracy. Mr. Watkins previously served as National Outreach Director for the AFL-CIO.
Tim Lash, MBA, CSO and Executive Vice President, West Health
Tim Lash oversees the development and execution of West Health’s successful aging portfolio across its nonprofit applied medical research, policy and advocacy initiatives and outcomes-based philanthropy. This work supports the organization’s mission of lowering healthcare costs to enable seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services.
John Rother, President, NCHC
John Rother is President of the National Coalition on Health Care, America’s oldest and most diverse group working to achieve comprehensive health system change. Prior to joining the Coalition in 2011, Mr. Rother served as the longtime Executive Vice President for Policy, Strategy, and International Affairs at AARP.