Your health care depends on who you are. Race and ethnicity continue to influence a patient’s chance of receiving many specific health care procedures and treatments. A thorough review of health quality data shows that racial and ethnic minorities continue to receive lower-quality care than Whites.

 

These differences persist even when insurance status and socioeconomic factors like education and income are taken into account. In its 2012 National Healthcare Disparities Report, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality suggests that disparities in quality of care are common.

 

Identifying and acting to reduce disparities in care for racial and ethnic minorities has been a core goal of Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) since its inception. In communities across the country, diverse stakeholders are at work sharing data, encouraging collaboration, and making patients and consumers part of improving quality for all. Peruse this collection to learn about the latest approaches to reduce disparities in care for racial and ethnic minorities.