Past Event

The Heart of the Matter - Closing Disparities in Hypertension, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke 

This forum, titled brought together leading experts in public health, cardiology, and health policy as well as community-based organizations working on healthy food, physical activity and cardiovascular disorders to address the critical issue of cardiovascular health disparities among communities of color in the United States. The event featured two panel discussions. 

Action Items

1. Expand Medicaid: Advocate for Medicaid expansion in states that have not yet done so, particularly focusing on Florida and Texas.  
2. Push for increased allocation of healthcare spending towards public health and prevention programs (currently only 4.4% of $4.3 trillion (about $13,000 per person in the US) annual health spending). 
3. Support the Improving Social Determinants of Health Act: Advocate for the passage of this bill, which would provide funding for CDC, states, localities, tribes, and communities to address social determinants of health. 
4. Advocate for policies that ensure access to high-quality early childhood education for all children. 
5. Support policies that increase access to healthy, nutritious meals in schools, including universal free school meals. 
6. Address food marketing to children: Push for policies that end tax loopholes and business cost reductions that allow for disproportionate marketing of unhealthy foods to children of color. 
7. Implement front-of-package labeling: Advocate for clear, easy-to-understand nutritional labeling on food packages to help consumers make healthier choices. 
8. Increase funding for SPAN and REACH programs: Push for expanded funding for the State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) program and the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program.  
9. Improve built environments: Advocate for policies that promote walkable communities, bike paths, parks, and other infrastructure that supports physical activity. 
10. Address income and wealth disparities: Support policies aimed at reducing economic inequalities, such as expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit. 
11. Support the expansion of FQHCs, particularly in underserved areas. 
12. Support policies and programs aimed at increasing diversity in healthcare professions and public health leadership. 
13. Advocate for policies that explicitly aim to dismantle racist structures within the healthcare system. 
14. Support efforts to collect and analyze health data that is disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and other relevant factors to better understand and address disparities.