Health Disparities

Since about 2001 there have been numerous studies related to healthcare disparities. The 2007 National Healthcare Disparities Report, produced by the AHRQ, found these disparities among others:

• "Blacks had a rate of new AIDS cases 10 times higher than whites.
• Asian adults age 65 and over were 50% more likely than whites to lack immunization against pneumonia.
• American Indians and Alaska Natives were twice as likely to lack prenatal care in the first trimester as whites.
• Poor children were over 28% more likely than high income children to experience poor communication with their health care providers.
• ...The factor most consistently related to better quality is whether a patient is insured."

So it is not surprising to see the word disparities 30 times in hb 3200. For instance, on page 125:

"Sec 224 - Modernized Payment Initiatives and Delivery System Reform

(b) Requirements for Innovative Payments -

The Secretary shall design and implement the payment mechanisms and policies under this section in a manner that seeks to...

2. Reduce health disparities (including racial, ethnic, and other disparities).

In my previous post, I pointed out that hb 3200 appears to transfer health care from those who currently have it to those who do not. The frequent use of this term (disparities) indicates that one goal is to bring those who have insufficient health care up.

If the Universal health care is to be revenue neutral (which it is not, yet), then someone must be sacrificed. Medicare is being cut, so some of the elderly will be sacrificed. In the Disparities Reports, it is pointed out that Whites have the advantage. So will that group get less until everyone has equal treatment?