February 28, 2008
Access to Transplantation
Newswise is reporting that two upcoming articles in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology will address how race and insurance status affect access to kidney transplantation and the treatment of kidney disease.
The first study found that minorities and Medicare patients were placed on transplant lists prior to starting dialysis at a lower rate than whites and those privately insured.
The second study reports that black patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) received the same care as white patients with CKD in the Department of Defense (DOD) medical system.
It is interesting to note that since DOD patients have universal access to care this may provide evidence that universal health care could eliminate racial disparities in health care.
You can find the complete story at the Newswise Medical News website and check the March issue of Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology for the complete articles.