Under the Senate version of the health care reform bill, the affordable public option was deleted from the legislation.  With that scratch of the pen, affordable health care for African Americans was all but eliminated.  Now, we can credit the Senate for their accomplishment in passing legislation that on its surface would make one believe that the proposed legislation will bring needed reform to the health care system.  However, with the preferential treatment granted to certain members of the Senate: Sen. Lieberman, Sen. Nelson, and a number of states released from having to participate in the reform, how can one believe that the final version will actually benefit the masses in need of health care?  African Americans are the least insured and the most likely to need health care and medical treatment because of long-term medical conditions that are inherently more costly and more lethal than that of other communities seeking medical attention. 

The current version of the health care provision must now be reconciled with that of the House version which has a public option which the two Senators that helped pass the Senate version of the bill, have publicly acknowledge that they could and would not support a public option version if it's in the final version of the legislation.  If Senators Lieberman and Nelson won't support a "public option" bill and in order for the legislation to pass, their votes are desperately needed, what other compromises are going to be made to get votes from individuals that are only looking out for their own interests and not that of the American people whom they were elected to represent? 

When asked, every American believes that every American should have access to affordable health care insurance, which has been nearly impossible to obtain.  The insurance industry has controlled the access to health care for decades and continues to do so.  During this current economic downturn, the insurance industry are among a few entities that have not lost any significant earnings yet, their unwillingness to embrace the proposed reforms have only reinforced their stronghold on elected officials to ensure that the legislation that passes congress doesn't interfere with the insurance company's profit share.  In any case, African Americans have been left out of the debate once again.  With more African Americans more likely to acquire diabetes, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, and high blood pressure, to name a few, a public option is the best way to ensure that African Americans are able to obtain affordable health care. 

So what will Congress do when both houses meet to reconcile the two versions of the health care reform bill?  What will ensure that the millions of uninsured African Americans are not only insured, but are insured at an affordable rate that will stimulate the majority of African Americans to seek the full benefits of a public option health care reform?  In either case, what will African Americans get out of either version of the bill?  If there is a public option in the final version, how will this benefit or hurt African Americans, what will they get out of it?  Moreover, if there isn't, will this continue the downward spiral, or will it kick-start a revolution for better health care for African Americans?