Publications

Recent Publications in Health Disparities Research

• New study shows limited disparities in quality of care

  A controversial article published in the March 16 Volume of the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that Americans -- rich, poor, black, white -- get roughly equal treatment, but it's woefully mediocre for all. The article concludes that the differences among sociodemographic subgroups in the observed quality of health care are small in comparison with the gap for each subgroup between observed and desirable quality of health care. In response to the article, on Tuesday, March 21, 2006, a broad assortment of health advocates, federal legislators and prominent researchers delivered a letter to the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine challenging the study. Article citation: Steven M. Asch, M.D., M.P.H., et. al. Who Is at Greatest Risk for Receiving Poor-Quality Health Care? New England Journal of Medicine Volume 354:1147-1156 Number 11

  The Letter sent in response to the article can be viewed on this site http://www.arc.org/Pages/newsroom-032106.html

• Examining the Health Disparities Research Plan of the National Institutes of Health: Unfinished Business

  This report is an assessment of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Strategic Research Plan and Budget to Reduce and Ultimately Eliminate Health Disparities and the adequacy of co- ordination of the development and implementation of the strategic plan across NIH institutes and centers. More information on this report is available at http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3740/22356/33275.aspx

• 2006 Statistical Portrait of the Nation's Asian and Pacific Islander Populations

  The UCLA Asian American Studies Center, as an official U.S. Census Information Center (as a co-partner with National Coalition for Asian Pacific Community Development), is pleased to provide this 2006 statistical portrait of the Asian American and Pacific Islander populations produced by the US Census Bureau for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which will take place in May, 2006. The portrait provides current census data, population projections, and internet links that should be useful for research, planning, writing and general educational purposes. For more information please see:

  http://www.aasc.ucla.edu/archives/2006censusportal.htm .
  

• The U.S. Health Care Divide: Disparities in Primary Care Experiences by Income

  In analyzing findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2004 International Health Policy Survey, which studied adults in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, this report finds a wide health care divide by income. There is a health care gap not only separating the U.S. from the other four countries, but also one standing between lower-income and higher-income Americans. Among the countries surveyed, the U.S. stands out for income-based disparities in patient experiences, with below-average-income U.S. adults reporting the worst experiences-compared with their counterparts in the other four countries-on most measures of primary care access, coordination, and doctor-patient relationships. For full article please see

  http://www.cmwf.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=364437