Health

Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown has put forth the Health & Endocrine Research on Personal Care Products for Women, or HER Act, a legislative proposal aimed at examining the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in beauty and hygiene products targeted at women of color. This initiative seeks to enhance women's health outcomes by addressing the reproductive health disparities disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic women.

The Trump Administration's proposed budget cuts would disproportionately affect Black Americans, causing millions to lose access to healthcare, food stamps, and reproductive healthcare, while pushing the poor deeper into poverty and benefiting the wealthy.

The drug overdose epidemic continues to disproportionately impact Black Americans, who suffer the second-highest mortality rate from overdoses. Organizations like Elmcor and the Council on Black Health are advocating for culturally relevant care and behavioral health services, alongside holistic support strategies, to address the underlying trauma that leads to substance use.

Healthcare costs have surged, tripling since 2005, disproportionately impacting Black and Hispanic families who lose a greater portion of their wages to rising premiums, while wage growth has lagged at 84% over the same period.

The U.S. Department of Justice has eliminated $500 million in grants aimed at preventing gun violence, affecting programs in Oakland, Detroit, and St. Louis that offered free physical and mental health care to gun violence survivors.

A new campaign, "You Have the Power to Save Lives," is being launched to address the disparities in overdose deaths in Black communities, with a focus on increasing the availability of free naloxone and educating residents on the risks of fentanyl.

The Trump administration's budget cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have led to the near-closure of a crucial team dedicated to preventing drownings, exacerbating the risk for Black communities around swimming pools.

The loss of Medicaid coverage poses significant challenges for individuals reliant on affordable prescription medications. To mitigate these disruptions, affected patients are advised to consider transitioning to generic medications, applying for patient assistance programs, and investigating alternative insurance options to maintain access to necessary prescriptions.

Residents of manufactured housing parks under the ownership of Homes of America, a subsidiary of the private equity firm Alden Global Capital, are experiencing significant health risks and substandard living conditions. Recent research advocates for enhanced housing regulations and tenant rights to safeguard the well-being of mobile home occupants.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Black individuals constituted 18% of cases and 5% of deaths, highlighting a disproportionate impact on this community. Recent changes to vaccine recommendations, limiting eligibility to adults over 65 and those with specific health conditions, could exacerbate risks for pregnant women and Black children, increasing their vulnerability to severe illness and hospitalization.