The Los Angeles Daily Breeze newspaper reports that new survey of California's burgeoning Latino population shows that access to health care, preventive medicine and education is very low.

The online survey, conducted by the Latino Issues Forum and MAYA, a Latino-owned research and marketing agency, questioned over 100 Latino leaders across California representing a broad range of interests. shows that, of all minority groups, Latinos are least likely to be insured, due to an insufficient number of Spanish-speaking physicians. 

 The survey, released last week at the U.S. Health Disparities Forum, suggest policy solutions including:

1. Require all health care plans to cover preventive screenings, disease management and health assistance programs (such as smoking cessation, nutrition counseling, etc.);

2. Develop a bilingual media campaign about prevalent illnesses among Latinos and prevention strategies;

3. Collect demographic data to ensure health plans deliver quality and equitable health care;

4. Invest in local communities to provide active living environments;

5. Develop clear guidelines for the public to measure the quality of care they receive.

Officials estimate that Latinos will become the largest ethnic group in California by 2011 and the majority of California's population by 2040. With that kind of growth, the state can't afford to ignore these health disparities.