House Resolution 28 PAG LIN 1 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. ___ 1 2 BY FORD 1 3 A Resolution supporting the development of a standard 1 4 medical school curriculum that ensures physicians 1 5 receive training relating to racial and cultural bias. 1 6 WHEREAS, African=Americans frequently report 1 7 experiencing a different level of medical treatment 1 8 and care, regardless of their financial ability to 1 9 provide payment, in connection with recommended 1 10 treatment therapies; and 1 11 WHEREAS, this different level of medical treatment 1 12 and care may contribute to the fact that the health 1 13 status of African=Americans is significantly worse 1 14 than that of other population groups; and 1 15 WHEREAS, an Institute of Medicine report in March 1 16 2002 concluded that population groups identified as 1 17 racial and ethnic minorities received lower quality 1 18 health care than did groups identified as Caucasian, 1 19 including a reduced likelihood of undergoing bypass 1 20 surgery and receiving kidney dialysis or organ 1 21 transplants; and 1 22 WHEREAS, the American Medical Association has 1 23 adopted a policy of zero tolerance toward racially or 1 24 culturally based disparities in health care, has 1 25 recommended the development of assessment tools to 1 26 enable individual physicians and groups of physicians 1 27 to identify and act on racial and ethnic disparities 1 28 in health care, and has recommended that its 1 29 membership regularly monitor and report on progress 1 30 being made to address racial and ethnic disparities in 2 1 health care; and 2 2 WHEREAS, the percentage of the population that is 2 3 comprised of groups identified as racial and ethnic 2 4 minorities is growing at a much faster rate than the 2 5 percentage of such minorities represented in the 2 6 physician workforce; and 2 7 WHEREAS, bias in health care treatment needs to be 2 8 identified, expressly addressed, and eliminated; NOW 2 9 THEREFORE, 2 10 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 2 11 That the Iowa House of Representatives calls upon the 2 12 State Board of Regents, the administration and 2 13 governing board of the University of Iowa, the 2 14 University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the faculty 2 15 and staff of the University of Iowa College of 2 16 Medicine, the administration and governing board of 2 17 Des Moines University == Osteopathic Medical Center, 2 18 and the faculty and staff of the College of 2 19 Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery of Des Moines 2 20 University, to develop a standard medical school 2 21 curriculum that ensures physicians receive explicit 2 22 training in the problems of racial bias and methods, 2 23 practices, and procedures to ensure that treatment and 2 24 therapies are recommended equitably regardless of 2 25 racial or cultural identity; and 2 26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this 2 27 Resolution be sent to each of the aforementioned 2 28 administrative staffs, boards, and faculties, to the 2 29 Iowa Department of Public Health, and to the members 2 30 of Iowa's congressional delegation. 3 1 LSB 2501HH 80 3 2 rn/cl/14