White House officials check in with mayors on Affordable Care Act

African Americans are one of the groups most likely to not have health insurance; they are 55 percent more likely to be uninsured than white Americans nationwide.

The White House is enlisting the help of mayors across the country to increase coverage in communities of color.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is part of the team trying to get the word out about the Affordable Care act. Nutter was part of a conference call Friday with federal officials to talk about strategies and challenges.

“We find that half of the African Americans in Philadelphia have hypertension or high blood pressure, and so many, regardless of race, as well are experiencing heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and other health challenges,” Nutter said.

Nutter’s office has partnered with organizations such as the NAACP and the nonprofit “Enroll America” to encourage African Americans to get  health coverage. NAACP officials say they hope to have more than 10,000 black Philadelphians enrolled by the end of their campaign.