In 2003, Americans learned just how unequal health care in the United States really was. A major report by an eminent group of experts showed wide gaps in how people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds received care for many different conditions—even if they had the same income or insurance coverage . Of course, people from Black, Hispanic, Native American and certain other backgrounds had lived that inequality for centuries.
And researchers had documented it since the 1960s. But the landmark report , called "Unequal Treatment," launched the issue into the spotlight for all Americans, and spurred action at many levels. It helped inform the Affordable Care Act, including new programs such as Medicaid expansion to reduce the number of people of all backgrounds who lacked health insurance.
Did it make a difference? Has inequality dropped? To some degree, yes—but much more action is needed, according to a new report , "Ending Unequal Treatment," first released late last month by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. One of the new report's authors, John Z. Ayanian, M.
D., M.P.
P., leads a major University of Michigan institute focused on health care research and policy, including health equity. Back in 2003, he was one of the researchers whose studies helped form the backbone of the first report.
"More than 20 years later, our committee found there's been some progress, but it's been uneven and incomplete in eliminating health care disparities an.
