Office for Civil Rights Initiative to Strengthen Language Access Programs at Critical Access Hospitals

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced its national compliance review initiative, "Advancing Effective Communication in Critical Access Hospitals," to support language access programs in these hospitals. In concert with the HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, this initiative will ensure that language access is provided so that individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write or understand English or are limited English proficient (LEP) can participate in, and benefit from, quality health care services. Read the bulletin

National Minority Health Month Kick Off!

This April, the Office of Minority Health and our partners mark National Minority Health Month by raising awareness about health disparities that continue to affect racial and ethnic minorities, and the health care law's groundbreaking policies to reduce these disparities and achieve health equity.

This year’s theme, Advance Health Equity Now: Uniting Our Communities to Bring Health Care Coverage to All is a call to action, a charge for all of us to unite towards a common goal of improving the health of our communities and increasing access to quality, affordable health care for everyone.

April also marks the second anniversary of the launch of theHHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparitiesand the National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity. Learn more at http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/actnow/

DISPARITIES IN CARE FOR BLACKS LINKED TO SEGREGATION, UNCONSCIOUS BIAS

Black patients are less satisfied with care from doctors who show unintentional bias. Highly segregated areas have disparities in lung cancer death rates, research shows.

By Kevin B. O'Reilly, amednews staff Jan. 28, 2013.

 Two studies published in January highlight the challenges blacks face in accessing equitable, quality health care. In one study, primary care physicians found to have unconscious bias against blacks received lower marks from their African-American patients on measures of trust and communication skills. Another study found that racial segregation exacerbates disparities in lung cancer mortality. More than 130 Denver-area primary care doctors and other health professionals such as nurse practitioners took psychological tests that measure implicit bias toward different racial and ethnic groups. Test takers were shown a series of faces, along with positive words such as “joy” and bad words such as “nasty.”  [...]

Read the entire article in American Medical News:

www.amednews.com/2013/prsa0128

Are Americans Aware of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities?

Are Americans Aware of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities?
Only modestly, it seems. Read the article Awareness of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Has Improved Only Modestly over a Decade .  Also, Awareness of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
Study Brief [PDF | 112KB]
2010 General Population [PDF | 257KB]
2009 General Population [PDF | 254KB]