Racial Equity and Health Policy

Chart of the Week

During Pandemic, Higher Premature Excess Deaths in U.S. Compared to Peer Countries Partly Driven by Racial Disparities

Among excess deaths in 2020, the average person lost 14 years of life in the U.S. compared to an average of 8 years in peer countries before the age of 75. The higher premature excess mortality rate among people of color in the U.S., and in the U.S. as a whole compared to similar countries, is likely due in part to higher COVID-19 risk factor rates and broader racial inequities.

Coronavirus

New & NoteWorthy

Loss of ACA Would Widen Racial Disparities in Health Coverage
This Policy Watch post examines the potential impact of the loss of ACA coverage expansions on people of color, possibly widening disparities in health coverage, access to care, and health outcomes. The Supreme Court is scheduled to take up the case in November.
Effects of the ACA Medicaid Expansion on Racial Disparities in Health and Health Care
This review of 65 studies since the ACA’s coverage expansion examines how the Medicaid expansion has affected racial disparities in health coverage, access to care, health outcomes, and economic outcomes.
Key Characteristics of Health Care Workers and Implications for COVID-19 Vaccination
This analysis provides an overview of demographic characteristics and health insurance coverage of health care workers with direct patient contact, including those working in hospital and long-term care settings.
Racial and Ethnic Health Inequities and Medicare
This chart collection examines the characteristics, experiences, and outcomes of the Medicare population by race and ethnicity. It includes data to describe demographics, health status and disease prevalence, health coverage, access to care and service utilization, and health outcomes, including data pertaining to disparities related to COVID-19.

the Essentials

data dashboard
Racial Equity and Health Data Dashboard
Racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care have persisted and in some cases widened over time. This dashboard gathers key data documenting inequities and the factors driving them.
Race/Ethnicity
Changes in Health Coverage by Race, Ethnicity Since ACA Implementation
People of color experienced large gains in coverage under the ACA that narrowed longstanding disparities. Beginning in 2017, and continuing in 2018, coverage gains stalled and began reversing for some groups.
Health Disparities
Health Disparities are a Symptom of Broader Social and Economic Inequities
Despite being long documented, racial and ethnic disparities in health have persisted and in some cases widened over time, with Black individuals and other groups of color faring worse compared to White individuals across many health status measures.
Key Facts
Key Facts on Health and Health Care by Race and Ethnicity
Data on demographics; health coverage, access, and utilization; and health status by race and ethnicity to provide greater insight into the status of health disparities and changes in disparities since implementation of the ACA.
5 Key Questions
Disparities in Health and Health Care: Five Key Questions and Answers
This brief explains what disparities are, why they matter, their status today, and key efforts to address them, including provisions in the Affordable Care Act.