National Healthcare Disparities Report - LDI Health Economist

Highlights
Figure H.6. Number and proportion of all access measures for which disparities related to age, race,
ethnicity, and income are improving, not changing, or worsening
100
80
1
Improving
3
No Change
Worsening
Percent
60
40
20
0
65+ vs. 18-44 (n=9)
13
15
15
9 8
8
1
2
45
Black vs. White (n=15)
AI/AN vs. White (n=9)
Asian vs. White (n=12)
Hispanic vs. NHW (n=15)
Poor vs. High Income (n=15)
Key: AI/AN = American Indian or Alaska Native; NHW = non-
Hispanic White; n = number of measures.
Improving = Disparity is getting smaller at a rate greater than 1%
per year.
No Change = Disparity is not changing or is changing at a rate
less than 1% per year.
Worsening = Disparity is getting larger at a rate greater than 1%
per year.
n Almost no disparities in access to care are getting smaller:
o The gap in access between Asians and Whites improved (grew smaller) for one-quarter of
measures. Few other disparities in access to care showed improvement.
Urgent Attention Is Warranted To Ensure Improvements in Quality and
Progress on Reducing Disparities
The third key function of the reports is to identify areas in greatest need of improvement. Potential problem
areas can be defined by types of services and populations at risk. Pace of improvement varies across
preventive care, acute treatment, and chronic disease management.
8 National Healthcare Disparities Report, 2011