Bill Overview
Title: Health Equity and MENA Community Inclusion Act of 2022
Description: This bill adds Middle Easterners and North Africans to the definition of racial and ethnic minority group for purposes of activities carried out by the Office of Minority Health and federally supported health care and public health programs.
Sponsors: Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-13]
Target Audience
Population: People from Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) descent
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The MENA region includes countries like Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and many others, and their descendants are distributed globally.
Reasoning
- The MENA community in the US is estimated to be around 5 million people, a significant population that has been historically underrepresented in federal health initiatives. By including them explicitly in minority health definitions, it can improve access to resources, health education, and culturally competent care.
- The policy's budget constraints mean that the initiatives will need to be targeted and efficient, possibly prioritizing areas with dense MENA populations like urban centers where organizational networks can amplify efforts.
- Given the policy's aim is to improve health equity, it may affect individuals differently based on their current access to healthcare, cultural barriers, and socioeconomic status.
Simulated Interviews
Small Business Owner (Dearborn, Michigan)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's about time the government recognizes us as a distinct group with unique needs.
- My family faces many barriers in accessing healthcare, mainly due to language and cultural differences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Healthcare Worker (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could significantly enhance the work we do with MENA communities, providing more tailored health interventions.
- I see lots of misinformation and mistrust due to lack of representation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Student (New York City, New York)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a step towards acknowledging the unique challenges faced by our community, especially for mental health services.
- There's a lot more that needs to be done in educational awareness too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Engineer (Houston, Texas)
Age: 57 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy's recognition can potentially improve how healthcare providers understand my cultural background, which is crucial for my treatment.
- We've been overlooked for so long.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Retired (Tampa, Florida)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have struggled with navigating the healthcare system due to language barriers and this policy might provide me better access and understanding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Software Developer (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I don't feel personally impacted, I recognize its importance for the community, especially newer immigrants.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Restaurant Owner (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to culturally competent care has been challenging; this can definitely help our community get better service.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Mechanic (Detroit, Michigan)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might increase the chances of job opportunities as health and community programs expand.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Artist (San Francisco, California)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I work with immigrant communities and this policy can help amplify our efforts in promoting health literacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
Retired (Miami, Florida)
Age: 63 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this policy improves healthcare access and understanding, it could improve my health management and reduce stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $22000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $26000000)
Year 3: $20000000 (Low: $16000000, High: $24000000)
Year 5: $18000000 (Low: $14000000, High: $22000000)
Year 10: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy implementation will require collaboration with multiple federal and state agencies to ensure the inclusion and effective service provision for the MENA community.
- Evaluating the impacts will require improvements and investments in data collection and analysis tools across the healthcare system.
- Social and community acceptance of the changes implemented by this bill, including proper education and outreach, will be crucial.
- Potential for improved health outcomes could outweigh initial costs over the long term.