UnitedHealth, Jackson promote black health

MINNEAPOLIS, June 8 (UPI) -- UnitedHealth Group and Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH group Friday announced an alliance to promote African-American health.

UnitedHealth Group will provide churches, community-based organizations and leaders affiliated with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition access to healthcare tools and technology, educational materials and clinical, disease management and care coordination expertise, the insurer said.

Jesse Jackson, a reverend with roots in the civil rights movement, said his group will link those resources to its network of churches and community organizations.

The two organizations will also work together to develop new solutions to persistent health disparities and challenges that plague African American and other minority communities. These include diseases such as diabetes, cancer, coronary disease and health challenges like asthma and obesity.

Studies have found that African-Americans have significantly less access to care, and poorer health outcomes.