HEALTH DISPARITIES BLOG

October 30, 2006

Racial gaps in U.S. health care seen in studies

From Reuters via CNN:

Blacks, Asians and Hispanics in California who had complex surgeries were less likely than whites to be operated on at high-volume hospitals where the outcomes are known to be better, researchers said Tuesday.

The University of California-Los Angeles study provided further evidence of racial disparities in the U.S. health care system, where blacks and other ethnic groups tend to get less, or inferior, care.

It might be interesting to contrast this study with a study of insurance payouts to Katrina victims.

From Central Florida News 13:

Whites were found three times more likely to appeal their settlements than lower-income blacks, who didn't know or doubted the government would help.

But, once appeals were filed, whites and minorities both received an average of about $40,000 more than they'd first been offered.

It seems that knowledge of how the system works might result in more equal insurance payouts. Perhaps this can be applied to the health care sector as well.