The Health Care Industry and Minority Business Opportunities

WHEREAS, nearly one-third of this nation's population is comprised of minorities; and

WHEREAS, although minorities have less access to preventative health care goods and services, suffer more severe illnesses, have a higher infant mortality rate, have a shorter life expectancy and receive less intensive medical treatment than their white counterparts, minorities still spend billions of dollars each year on health care goods and services from major providers in the health care industry (such as quorum health resources with over 200 medical facilities; Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation with over 200 medical facilities; Tenet with nearly 150 medical facilities; and Health South Corporation with almost 100 medical facilities); and

WHEREAS, although major providers in the health care industry spend billions of dollars each year with vendors or suppliers of health care goods and services relatively few of these dollars are spent with minority owned companies; and

WHEREAS, there are qualified minority companies available to provide health care goods and services but are seldom allowed by major providers in the health care industry, to participate as vendors or suppliers of health care goods and services; and

WHEREAS, full economic participation in the health care industry by these minority companies is essential for economic parity in employment and business opportunities, as well as progress toward achieving equal access to health care goods and services for minorities.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the NAACP call for all providers in the health care industry to adopt and implement equal opportunity and affirmative action programs which ensure minorities participate as vendors and suppliers of health care goods and services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP call for all providers in the health care industry to implement programs that encourage development of minority-owned businesses which provide health care goods and services.