Governor Edward G. Rendell today reinforced his commitment to making sure all Pennsylvanians are healthy and have access to the same health care resources with the creation of the state Department of Health’s Office of Health Equity.

“Health disparities kill and they cost, but they can be cured,” Governor Rendell said. “We know that conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and asthma are more dramatic in different segments of our population and we must address that. The goal of the Office of Health Equity is to help eliminate the barriers and challenges that people face in terms of access to and quality of health care in Pennsylvania.”

State Health Secretary Dr. Calvin B. Johnson, will visit Pittsburgh and Philadelphia later this week to discuss the details of the new office.

“Governor Rendell realizes the impact the issue of health disparities has on every aspect of health care in Pennsylvania and the nation,” Dr Johnson said. “This new Office of Health Equity will focus on taking a more coordinated approach to eliminating health disparities through continued collaboration and coordination with community-based organizations, other state agencies and the public.”

Dr. Johnson noted that the Office of Health Equity will be placed in the Department of Health’s Bureau of Health Planning, which coordinates the development and implementation of a statewide State Health Improvement Plan.

In addition to the collaborations with public and private organization, the Office of Health Equity will work with policy makers, insurers, health care providers and communities to implement policies and programs that result in a measurable and sustained improvement in the health status of underserved and separate populations.

The creation of the Office of Health Equity is yet another step taken by the Governor to improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians. Earlier in the year, he called for the expansion of health care coverage as part of Cover All Kids, a $14.6 million investment that would expand coverage for an additional 15,000 uninsured children under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in 2006-07 and add 70,000 by 2010. The Governor’s budget also calls for expanding coverage for 8,500 more uninsured adults under the adultBasic insurance program in 2006-07.

For more information on health disparities in Pennsylvania visit www.health.state.pa.us. For more on Governor Rendell’s proposed expansion of health care services, visit www.state.pa.us.

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For more information contact:

Kate Phillips
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-1116