HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 30
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss and Delegates Webster, Amores, Anderson, Argento, Ashley,
Azinger, Barker, Beane, Boggs, Border, Brown, Browning, Butcher, Campbell, Cann, Caputo,
Carmichael, Craig, Crosier, DeLong, Doyle, Eldridge, Ellem, Ennis, Ferrell, Fragale, Frich,
Hartman, Hatfield, Howard, Hrutkay, Hunt, Lane, Leach, Long, Longstreth, Mahan, Manchin,
Marshall, Martin, Michael, Miley, Moore, Morgan, Palumbo, Perry, Pethtel, Pino, Poling, Porter,
Roberts, Rowan, Schoen, Spencer, Stalnaker, Staton, Stemple, Sumner, Susman, Swartzmiller,
Talbott, Tansill, Rick Thompson, Ron Thompson, Trump, Tucker, Varner, Wells, G. White, H.
White and Yost)
Recognizing the need to increase resources and make other changes essential to the elimination of
racial and ethnic health disparities in West Virginia.
Whereas, Racial, ethnic and cultural groups have a disproportionately high burden of
disease, disability and death because minorities are less likely than whites to receive health services;
and
Whereas, More than twice as many pregnant African American women than pregnant
Caucasian women in West Virginia go without prenatal care within the first trimester of pregnancy;
and
Whereas, Within West Virginia, more than twice as many African Americans than
Caucasians die from diabetes and prostate cancer; and
Whereas, Having health insurance coverage does not guarantee receipt of needed medical
care among older African American adults living in West Virginia; and
Whereas, A state should have a diverse healthcare workforce with providers who know the
values, beliefs, traditions, and cultures of the patients they serve; and
Whereas, The database inventory of the Bureau for Public Health does not include African
American, Indian or other minority physicians practicing in West Virginia; and
Whereas, Data are essential for policymakers, state agencies and private healthcare systems
to identify minority health disparities, to improve minority health programs and to measure progress
in eliminating disparities; and
Whereas, The West Virginia Minority Health Chart Book reporting data on the health of
minorities in this state has not been updated since its publication in 1999; and
Whereas, A strong state minority health office needs sufficient human and financial
resources, a statewide minority health plan, a statewide advisory group, and data on health disparities
and performance measures to address racial and ethnic health disparities and design strategies to
eliminate disparities; and
Whereas, A Minority Health Program Coordinator is employed by the Division of Rural
Health, but the Division receives no dedicated state funding for minority health programing and there
is no active minority health advisory group nor is there a statewide minority health plan; therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the state needs to increase resources and make other changes essential to the elimination
of racial and ethnic health disparities; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Osteopathic Medical School, the Marshall School of Medicine,
the West Virginia University School of Medicine and other state colleges and universities should
strive to produce a diverse healthcare workforce that mirrors the state population and a workforce
that is trained in the cultural and linguistic differences of the minority populations they may serve;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Bureau for Public Health should collect, analyze and report health
data by race and ethnicity at regular intervals not exceeding every two years so that it is available to
help determine what programs and strategies are essential to eliminating minority health disparities;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Bureau for Public Health seek funding from private and public
sources for the operation of the Minority Health Program; and, be it
Further Resolved, That Bureau for Public Health should rename its Minority Health Program
the Office of Minority Health and establish a statewide minority health advisory council with
members from both within and without government which should be charged with preparing a
statewide minority health plan; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Minority Health Program is encouraged to partner with hospitals
and other providers, academic institutions and others to take advantage of resources available
through the partners.
This resolution was recommended for introduction and passage during the 2005 session of
the Legislature by Select Committee E.
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