Former Surgeon General Applauds High Court’s Decision
Dr. David Satcher heads the Satcher Leadership Institute at The Morehouse School of Medicine.
MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Today’s affordable healthcare act ruling by the United States Supreme Court gives momentum in the effort to eliminate health disparities.
That’s from the 16th Surgeon General of the United States.
“I was in segregated schools in Alabama. We were discriminated against in so many ways. So that was a big day in 1954, that separate is in fact does not equal”
That ruling was Brown vs. The Board of Education.
Satcher has long been a proponent of equal access to healthcare.
The former surgeon general heads the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine.
He calls the high court’s decision a step in the right direction on a troubled healthcare path.
“We’ve been increasing the number of the uninsured. 13-million more people are uninsured than when I left office so this reverses that,” says Satcher.
What is of great importance to Dr. Satcher he says is the focus on primary care and prevention.
That’s especially critical to those living with chronic illnesses.
“And unfortunately more and more Americans are suffering from diabetes and hypertension and other chronic diseases. People need quality care through primary care and continuity of relationships if they’re going to get their chronic diseases under control,” says Satcher.
Satcher says those living with HIV or AIDS will also benefit.
“But there are so many people including right here in Georgia where people with HIV/Aids are not now covered by Medicaid and of course Medicaid, it has struggled. This law will greatly expand Medicaid which we need to do.”
According to the latest data more than 19 percent of Georgians are uninsured.
That’s 3 percent higher than Americans nationwide.
While today’s ruling is historic Satcher pleads there’s still more to do.
“It’s not the time to let up in our efforts to get people to take their responsibility for their own health more seriously, it’s not time for us to let up in trying to get more minority physicians and other health providers, all those things that we work for especially at the Morehouse School of Medicine.”
Georgia was one of 26 states suing the government to strike down the Affordable Healthcare Act.
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