Today, the Biden Administration announced new actions to address consumer medical debt. In response, Dr. Rachel Villanueva, President of the National Medical Association, issued the following statement:
“Due to racial inequities in the healthcare industry, Black households are more likely to incur medical debt and less likely to have health insurance. For too long, medical debt has disproportionately burdened Black communities – and we applaud the Biden administration for taking steps to address this crisis. Medical debt is more than a disconcerting financial predicament – it holds people back from seeking medical care when they need it. By lessening the burden of medical debt, we can help families thrive, stay healthy and achieve health equity.”
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The NMA promotes the collective interests of physicians and patients of African descent. We carry out this mission by serving as the collective voice of physicians of African descent and a leading force for parity in medicine, elimination of health disparities and promotion of optimal health.
