Health and Human Services secretary visits Allentown, discusses Hispanic health care, Obamacare and prescription drug costs

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was in the Lehigh Valley on Monday to tour hospitals, tout HHS accomplishments and do some work in a nonofficial capacity for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.

During his visit, Becerra was joined by U.S. Rep. Susan Wild and Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk as he toured St. Luke’s University Health Network’s OB/GYN Care Associates in Allentown, a fully Spanish-speaking practice, and the Star Community Wellness Center. Amid all that, Becerra, Wild and Tuerk participated in roundtable discussions in the morning and at noon and a news conference in the afternoon.

Issues like the Inflation Reduction Act’s changes to prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients, the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, and Hispanic health care were major topics of discussion.

On the Affordable Care Act, Becerra touted how a record 300 million Americans now have health insurance, 21.4 million of whom have plans through marketplaces established under the health care law.

Becerra and Wild also touched on the work that has been done to lower health care costs and cap insulin at $35 a month for seniors on Medicare through the Inflation Reduction Act. Starting next year, the Inflation Reduction Act caps total prescription drug costs for seniors with Medicare at $2,000 a year.

The quality of care available to Allentown’s sizeable Hispanic and Latino population was also a topic of discussion. Becerra, who is Hispanic, praised what he saw at St. Luke’s and Star Community Wellness for their commitments to the Lehigh Valley’s Hispanic community.

“When people come into facilities to get their service, they’re going to be treated with great respect,” he said. “So much so that they can speak to the health professionals in their language. They have health professionals that will service them and understand their not just linguistic but cultural needs.

“It then should not surprise you some of the health care results that you’re seeing,” Becerra said. “The diabetes rate is lower in many respects among some of the population here, even though in Latinos diabetes is very prevalent, lower rates because people are probably getting very good services and treatment here.”

At a separate lunch meeting at Allentown restaurant La Cocina del Abuelo, Becerra — acting not in his official capacity as secretary, but as an advocate for Biden’s reelection campaign — met with Latino leaders and business owners to discuss the November presidential race.

Becerra asked the roundtable for feedback and suggestions on how the Biden campaign can reach out to Latino voters.

“We are not monolithic thinkers. It’s not one size fits all,” said Guillermo Lopez, a Bethlehem native and owner of a diversity, equity and inclusion firm. “We have conservatives, we have liberals, we have everything in between. But more importantly, we want our families to be healthy, safe and be able to work hard to move forward. I think it’s the kitchen table issues that matter most.”

In an interview following the roundtable, Becerra touted Biden’s commitment to Latino voter outreach.

“We want to recognize that the Latino community sometimes feels like politicians don’t pay attention,” Becerra said. “President Biden wants to focus on Allentown, including Latinos in Allentown.”

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