Report Released Today Details Number of Black and Latino Americans with Cancer, Heart Disease, Stroke, Diabetes, and Chronic Lung Disease Who Depend on Medicaid for Treatment
 

Washington, D.C.—Cuts to Medicaid would pose a specific and dangerous threat to millions of black and Latino Americans who depend on the program for regular treatment for such medical conditions as cancer, diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart disease, and stroke. Without Medicaid, many of these seriously-ill Americans would no longer be able to fill essential prescriptions, keep up with key screenings, or see a doctor if their condition worsens or reoccurs.
 
The importance of Medicaid to the black and Latino communities, as well as the heavy burden of chronic disease borne by these groups, is documented in a detailed report, “Medicaid: A Lifeline for Blacks and Latinos with Serious Health Care Needs,” which was released today.  
 
The report was released jointly by the American Diabetes Association, the American Lung Association, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the National Medical Association, the National Urban League Policy Institute, and Families USA.
 
The report also provides state-specific data for blacks and Latinos who rely on Medicaid and suffer from conditions such as cancer, diabetes, chronic lung disease, and heart disease and stroke.

The report finds that among African Americans:

• More than one in five individuals with cancer—21.9 percent, an estimated 141,000—relies on Medicaid for their treatment.
• Nearly one in four African Americans with diabetes—24.4 percent, nearly 778,000 people—relies on Medicaid coverage.
• Well over one-third of the black community with chronic lung disease—37.0 percent, more than 1.4 million individuals—are covered by Medicaid.
• More than one in five African Americans suffering from heart disease or stroke—21.6 percent, or nearly 1.9 million people—count on Medicaid for their medical treatment.

 
Just as in the black community, Medicaid provides health coverage for a significant portion of the Latino community with chronic diseases:
 

• Nearly one in four Latinos with cancer—24.5 percent, or nearly 105,000—relies on Medicaid.
• More than one-quarter of the Latino community living with diabetes—25.6 percent, more than 692,000 people—rely on Medicaid coverage.
• Nearly two in five Latinos with chronic lung disease—39.8 percent, or nearly 1.4 million people—are covered by Medicaid.
• Nearly one-quarter of the community being treated for heart disease or stroke—23.2 percent, or more than 1.4 million individuals—rely on Medicaid for that treatment.

Click here to read the full press release.