HHS Unveils Initiatives to Close Healthcare Gap for Minorities

The plan also calls for HHS to set data standards and upgrade collection and analysis of data on race, ethnicity, primary language and other demographic categories that are consistent with provisions of the new healthcare reform law.

HHS officials say the new initiatives are being launched because racial and ethnic minorities lag behind in many health outcome measures.

“They are less likely to get the preventive care they need to stay healthy, more likely to suffer from serious illnesses, such as diabetes or heart disease and, when they do get sick, are less likely to have access to quality health care,” HHS officials say.

The officials note the new healthcare reform law “offers the potential to address the needs of racial and ethnic minority populations, by bringing down health care costs, investing in prevention and wellness, supporting improvements in primary care, and creating linkages between the traditional realms of health and social services.”

In a statement, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says, “For the first time, the United States has a coordinated road map designed to give everyone the chance to live a healthy life.”

She adds that, “We all need to work together to combat this persistent problem so that we can build healthier communities and a stronger nation.”

In other health news, The National Association of Health Underwriters, Arlington, Va., is voicing support for repeal of the healthcare reform law. Explaining its position, NAHU cites the “unworkable” medical loss ratio standards imposed through the legislation as well as the law’s lack of “meaningful cost controls.”