By Bernie Monegain, Healthcare IT News
The Department of Health and Human Services has unveiled CuidadodeSalud.gov, the first website of its kind in Spanish to connect consumers to information and resources aimed at helping them access high-quality, affordable health care coverage.
HHS announced the launch on Sept. 8.
CuidadodeSalud.gov is the partner site of HealthCare.gov -- launched in July -- and is the first Website in Spanish to provide consumers with both public and private health coverage options tailored to their needs.
"CuidadoDeSalud.gov, like HealthCare.gov, is an unprecedented Website which provides consumers with the power of information at their fingertips," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in announcing the site.
"CuidadoDeSalud.gov will give Latinos across the nation better information about the choices they have, how much they cost, and what they can expect from their doctor " specific to their life situation and local community."
The Website is also a one-stop-shop for information about provisions in the Affordable Care Act. Consumers can use it to check quality rankings for local providers as well as preventive services.
More than one in three Latinos are uninsured, Sebelius said, and without health care coverage they have less access to care. Latinos are only half as likely to have a source of primary care, and half of Latinos do not have a regular doctor. Latinos also suffer disproportionately from chronic health diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
In October 2010, CuidadoDeSalud.gov will include price estimates for health insurance plans. In the weeks and months ahead, new information on preventing disease and illness and improving the quality of healthcare for all Americans will also be posted.
