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Health care services1 in the U.S. have been improving for decades, but in many
instances, racial and ethnic minorities2 receive fewer health care services, lower
quality services,3 and services later in the progression of illness.4 Some disparities in
health care services can be explained by differences in income, insurance status, and
medical need. However, there is increasing evidence that racial and ethnic disparities in care persist even after accounting for these factors.5
Disparities in health care services not only raise ethical questions, they also
play a role in the differences in health status among racial and ethnic groups, and
they may limit economic development in minority communities. Disparities in
health care services also may affect the health and economic well being of the
nation because the health of one portion of the population is ultimately linked to
the health of the whole country.6
These concerns will become more pressing as the
percentage of the population belonging to a racial or ethnic minority increases.
Key strategies to address disparities in health care services include overall
quality improvement and targeted strategies for health care services; improving
access to services in minority communities; and increasing the number of minorities in health professions.7 However, there is limited understanding of the drivers of
racial and ethnic disparities and limited ability to monitor the progress of the problem or its solutions.Without this information, it is difficult to determine which
strategies are most effective and which have the greatest impact on health outcomes. Health care data collection that includes racial or ethnic information8 as well
as improved survey research9 will help promote effective strategies (see Table 1