Addressing Racial Disparities, Closing the Health Care Gap

Addressing Racial Disparities, Closing the Health Care Gap
Policy activists, including Critical MASS and Health Care for All, have organized a conference on addressing racial disparities in health care, June 13, at the Hoagland Pincus Center in Shrewsbury. Conferees are expected to roll out the latest data on local, state and national disparities in accessing health care and begin crafting a policy response. More information can be obtained from cwatson@hcfama.org or by calling 617.275.2936. The Pincus Center is on the campus of UMASS Medical Center, just off Route 9.
How stark are the disparities? Take a look at some figures compiled by Critical MASS:
Blacks are twice as likely and Hispanics almost three times as likely as whites to be without health insurance.
Black, non-Hispanic mothers, followed by Hispanic mothers have the lowest percentage of women receiving prenatal care during their first trimester of pregnancy.
Asian and Pacific Island women are three times less likely than whites to receive PAP smear exams on any regular basis.
Disparities lead to deaths and disabilities.
The mortality rate for black non-Hispanics is the highest of all major race groups, and is 22 percent above the statewide age-adjusted mortality rate in 2000.
The infant mortality rate was 3 times higher for black non-Hispanics than white non-Hispanics for the period 1998-2000.
In 2000, black non-Hispanics died from HIV/AIDS at about 10 times the rate of white, non-Hispanics.
Black, non-Hispanics in 2000 were 10 times more likely than white non-Hispanics to be murdered.
The teen birth rate in 2000 for Hispanics was almost 6 times higher than the rate for white, non-Hispanic teens
A successful conference could, ultimately, save lives by opening a new chapter in the pursuit of access and equity in health care.