A statewide report released by the Arkansas Minority Health Commission confirms that oppressed communities in the state do not have equal access to health care.
The study found that more than half of Latinos are not covered by health insurance. About half did not have access to a regular health care provider.
The study also examined racism in the delivery of health care, reporting that 20 percent of Latinos said they faced longer wait times and discrimination from medical personnel. Similarly, 15 percent of African Americans reported experiencing discrimination in medical services.
Overall, 40 percent of urban African Americans believed that they were treated less fairly in health care delivery. Twenty-nine percent of rural African Americans and 25 percent of Latinos felt the same way.
The health care crisis continues to worsen, with workers losing health benefits as they lose their jobs. This crisis is most pronounced in oppressed communities, where joblessness is higher and access to care is already scarce.
