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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Marc W. Zodet, MS, Center for Cost and Financing Studies, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 500, Rockville, MD 20852, 301-594-7072, MZodet@ahrq.gov
Disparities in health status exist across multiple demographic dimensions in the United States. Researchers have shown that racial and ethnic minorities have disproportionately higher morbidity and mortality across a number of health conditions when compared to the majority non-Latino white population. Women have been shown to experience more functional limitations (e.g., difficulties walking, climbing stairs, grasping objects, etc.) which translates to diminished health status compared to men. Also, it has been reported that an estimated 2.8 million children under 18 years of age are considered to be in fair or poor health. Such disparities in health status may be reflective of and perpetuated by differential experiences with the U.S. healthcare system. Lack of health insurance and other barriers (e.g., language, physician/patient bias, etc.) may prevent people in these populations from obtaining appropriate preventive services or other medical treatment thus contributing to diminished health status. It has been hypothesized that many of the observed disparities in health status could be reduced with improved access to appropriate healthcare services. This paper utilizes the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) to examine disparities in healthcare services. The survey collects data on healthcare utilization, expenditures, sources of payment, and health insurance coverage for individuals and families in the United States and is designed to produce national and regional estimates for the non-institutionalized population. The paper will examine select general healthcare measures (i.e., health insurance coverage, utilization of healthcare services, quality of provided care). Quality of care will be evaluated using items from the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans (CAHPS®) which was included as a supplemental component to the MEPS. Estimates for these measures will be generated across racial and ethnic identification, gender, and for child/adolescent and elderly populations. Analyses will be further stratified by cross-classification of these demographic characteristics as well as by socio-economic status and geographic region. Observed disparities will be discussed with specific emphasis placed on the comparisons of healthcare disparities for subpopulations of people identified by the cross-classifications (e.g., Hispanic women vs. Hispanic men). Implications of small sample sizes on estimation procedures will be discussed as applicable. This work will be heavily descriptive and will serve as a primary component of a broader report on national healthcare disparities.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.