The Health Equality Campaign is a non-profit legislative advocacy organization. The Campaign works to ensure all Americans have increasing opportunities to live the healthiest life possible. Long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put many racial and ethnic minority groups at increased health risks, especially when healthcare systems prioritize revenue over patient outcome. The business relationship between insurance companies and healthcare systems often leave the patient-stakeholder under represented. Healthcare systems, in a race to increase revenue along with their systemic bias may attempt to manipulate state Medicaid programs. As healthcare systems become bought out and consolidated the dominant players are acquiring greater regional monopolistic power.

We promote policy that reduces health inequities and advances health equity. We achieve health equity by promoting equal treatment for all people and genders. We work with legislators to address the policy issues that affect the health of all Americans.

Established in June of 2020, and founded by Anthony Losquadro, the Health Equality Campaign is the lobbying arm of  Intaction.  Federal law requires us to maintain a separately funded entity when we engage in legislative and political advocacy.

The campaign supports public policy aimed at reducing the harm and suffering of children from the practice of genital cutting or circumcision.

We are privately funded with a sole mission to improve public health policy. We do not profit or earn income from the practice of medicine or the business of healthcare, nor do we have ties to the insurance industry.

The Campaign seeks to protect children under both private and Medicaid insurance from the unnecessary and painfully traumatic practice of routine infant circumcision.

Infant circumcision is the starkest example of what is wrong with the American capitalist “fee for service” medical system.

Insurance coverage of newborn infant circumcision is based on the 20th century capitalist medical model where unneeded services are promoted to provide greater hospital profits. The medical industry lobbies insurance companies to pay for these services, and insurance companies in turn eagerly increase premium rates. The “fee for service” healthcare system and the “for-profit” insurance industry have been unwilling to stop these conflicts of interest.

Documented incidents have shown these children are more at risk for botches, malpractice, and complications from inadequately trained and supervised medical staff than their non-Medicaid counterparts. In addition, hospitals are more likely to rush the procedure and often neglect to offer pain relief. Studies have shown that even under the best of circumstances,  Medicaid coverage of circumcision spreads harm to the disadvantaged.

Medicaid circumcision payments

The Business of Medicine is Big Business

The friendly doctor or nurse is the visible layer the average person encounters when interacting with the healthcare system. However behind these helpful clinicians is a $3.8 trillion dollar Goliath that is the business of medicine. The money flow for the U.S. fee for service healthcare system stretches from your doctor’s office all the way to Wall Street.

Hospitals and medical practices hire billing code or revenue consultants to review patient paperwork. They make sure the backoffice staff bills out the maximum amounts possible, and that the medical staff perform additional services that are payable by insurance – even if not necessary.

Healthcare systems and medical practices are well-funded interests that fight vigorously to protect their income stream. The American Hospital Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and other medical trade association lobbies, spend over $600 million dollars a year just to influence legislation and regulation. They fight for laws, regulations, and rules favorable to their business model. Any proposed reduction of revenue income is met with stiff opposition from these groups.

Wall Street private-equity (PE) firms are on a buying spree to buyout medical practices for millions of dollars. The for-profit PE firms then seek to increase revenues to not only pay for the buyouts but make greater profits. Attempts to cut revenues sends these investors into a panic because any disruption to cash flow would jeopardize their investment. These PE firms pour tens of millions of dollars in lobbying politicians to protect their investments.

Many hospitals are also owned by non-profit corporations. But don’t let the non-profit designation fool you. For instance with Northwell Health, a New York non-profit healthcare system, executive compensation totals over $37 million dollars per year. These executives, board members, and trustees will fight to preserve hospital revenue (along with their paychecks & bonuses.)

With regards to infant male circumcision we seek to :

  • Prohibit solicitation and pressuring of parents to circumcise
  • Prohibit use of dangerous medical devices
  • Require doctor adherence to a mandatory analgesia policy
  • Ensure proper tracking of circumcision complications in the NYS- SPARCS database
  • Ensure hospitals provide a fully informed consent policy outlining all risks of circumcision

While achieving these goals, we can help parents make better choices, reduce Medicaid costs, protect children, and improve the health & well being of New York’s residents.

The Campaign is dedicated to vigorous and effective legislative advocacy that will deliver results for our cause. We will target states that offer the best strategic opportunity opportunity for change. We will deliver solid and smart messages to key decision makers in the public sector.

The Campaign will endeavor to influence New York State legislators, the Governor’s office, and other levels of government as deemed necessary to support our healthcare equality and harm reduction legislative agenda. We believe we can lobby for incremental change to state policy, regulations, and laws to hasten the decline of circumcision rates.

Bolton St. Johns, one of the largest lobbying firms in New York, represents the Campaign in Albany. Their task is to promote our agenda in the New York State legislature and educate key legislators on the issues.

Our messaging will, at all times, be consistent with our mission – that every child has the inalienable right to an intact body. We will advocate against both male and female genital mutilation (circumcision) and gender assignment surgery on intersex children.

We will also promote an intact body positive message so legislators understand and value the anatomical and psychological importance of an intact body. Together we can reduce the suffering of children and provide them with better health outcomes so they may start their lives with the fullest potential.

Fifty State Legislative and Regulatory Surveillance

The Health Equality Campaign monitors every measure, action and public comment deadline related to circumcision with our legislative and regulatory tracking system. We have access to comprehensive legislative information from Congress, all state capitols, territories, localities and the District of Columbia. We can track proposed or pending legislation of interest to the Campaign.

With this legislative and regulatory surveillance we can immediately alert our members and take action when issues critical to us arise.

circumcision health equality

The Health Equality Campaign Inc (d/b/a INTACT PAC) is a registered 501 (c)4 non-profit political action committee. Donations are not tax deductible.

Directors:

  • David Grant
  • William Kaye
  • Anthony Losquadro

Monies donated to Intaction cannot be used by the Health Equality Campaign due to federal regulations. Please contribute directly to the Health Equality Campaign (INTACT PAC) by using the support button on this page.