Health Care:
Access to health care is a priority for Latinos that includes affordable and accessible primary, preventive, and emergency room health care that is culturally competent. Latino mothers should have access to pre-natal care and children must have access to immunization, prescription medications, as well as substance abuse education. LULAC urges pharmaceutical companies and medical research facilities to increase the inclusion of Latinos in their clinical trials.
LULAC urges greater awareness among health care providers of the disparities in the health care system and the elimination of bias and stereotyping of Latino patients. LULAC also advocates patient education programs to increase patients’ knowledge about diseases disproportionately affecting Latinos, such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s and HIV/AIDS, and how to best find health care and participate in the treatment process.
LULAC strongly opposes any efforts that would require hospital emergency room employees to check on the immigration status of all patients and report any who are undocumented to the federal government for deportation.
LULAC also urges an expansion of insurance coverage for children in poverty, as well as increased funding for programs to promote self-esteem and prevent teen pregnancy.
Because of the disproportionate number of Hispanics who are uninsured and under-insured, LULAC strongly urges the creation of a universal health care coverage plan that insures all people in an equitable manner.
LULAC supports the expansion of state and federal funding for mental health and mental disabilities programs.
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