Online chat with Dr. David Satcher on health reform and health disparities

On Thursday, Bay Area News Group (Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune, etc.) hosted a live online chat with Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General, and Rich Hamburg, deputy director of Trust for America's Health. Health reporter Sandy Kleffman and I (the science reporter for the chain) moderated it.  

Both men responded to questions posted by participants on how Congressional health reform legislation offers an unprecedented amount of funds for disease prevention, and funds for novel programs to improve health by improving neighborhoods. It's archived at: 

www.contracostatimes.com/health/ci_13993664

It's a new direction in federal health policy, and it will be something to watch, in terms of its staying power. Satcher also addresses reasons he believes disease prevention - clearly a cost-effective strategy - remains such a minor part of federal health policy.