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Racial Equity and Health Policy

Immigrants

States Have Enacted or Proposed a Range of Legislation That Will Affect Immigrants’ Access to State-Funded Health Coverage

This policy watch summarizes recent proposed actions by states related to state-funded health coverage for immigrants and trends in other legislation enacted during the 2025 session that have implications for immigrants.

Related: Key Facts on Health Coverage of Immigrants

5 Key Facts About Immigrants and Medicaid

Role of Immigrants in the Hospital Workforce

Policy Bars Many Immigrants from a Broad Range of Federal Health and Social Supports

Potential Impacts of 2025 Budget Reconciliation on Health Coverage for Immigrant Families

Racism, Discrimination and Health

Physician Workforce Diversity by Race and Ethnicity

Racial and ethnic disparities in health remain persistent in the U.S. of health care services and broader social and economic factors that reflect historical and ongoing racism. One factor that can mitigate such disparities is when physicians and patients share the same racial or ethnic background.

Data show that in the U.S. Hispanic, Black, AIAN, and NHPI people were underrepresented among physicians relative to their share of the population. The widest gap was seen among Hispanic people, who comprised 20% of the total population but only 7% of the physician workforce.

Executive Orders Eliminating Diversity and Disparities Initiatives May Widen Disparities

State Reported Efforts to Address Health Disparities: A 50 State Review

KFF Survey on Racism, Discrimination and Health: Views on Racism and Trust in Key U.S. Institutions

Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Efforts to Address Them

Survey of Immigrants

A Majority of Lawfully Present Immigrants Are Worried They or a Family Member Could Be Detained or Deported

A new KFF poll finds six in 10 lawfully present immigrants say they worry about the possibility that they or a family member could be detained or deported, contributing to feelings of increased stress, anxiety, and other health problems. A companion report based on focus groups provides a window into how likely undocumented immigrants and their families are faring in the current immigration policy landscape.
Interactive Timeline

How History Has Shaped Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: A Timeline of Policies and Events

This interactive timeline explores how history has shaped racial and ethnic health disparities and the lasting effects that persist to this day.

The timeline describes major U.S. federal policies and events since the early 1800s that are linked to present-day health disparities. It also covers policies that impact health coverage and access to care, medicine, and social and economic policies that influence health as well as efforts to tackle inequalities.
the Essentials

  • Disparities in Health and Health Care: 5 Key Questions and Answers

    This brief provides an introduction to what health and health care disparities are, why it is important to address them, what the status of disparities is today, recent federal actions to address disparities, and key issues related to addressing disparities in the future.

  • Timeline: How History Has Shaped Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

    This timeline offers a historical view of significant U.S. federal policies and events spanning the early 1800s to today that have influenced present-day health disparities.

  • Health Policy 101: Chapter on Race, Inequality and Health

    Addressing persistent racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care is important for improving the nation’s health and economic prosperity. KFF explains such disparities and the factors that drive them, examines the actions to address them, and outlines future considerations.

  • Key Data on Health and Health Care by Race and Ethnicity

    Racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care remain a persistent challenge in the United States. An updated KFF resource examines how people of color fare compared to White people across 64 measures of health, health care, and social determinants of health.

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  • National Survey of Latinos: Politics and Civic Participation, Toplines

    Poll Finding

    These include topline findings from a comprehensive survey that assesses Latino attitudes in the 2004 election year. The third annual survey of Latinos from the Pew Hispanic Center and the Kaiser Family Foundation, the new survey examines political issues and the presidential election campaign, the economy, health care, Iraq and immigration. Survey Toplines (.

  • Policy Brief: Minority AIDS Initiative

    Issue Brief

    The Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) was created in 1998 by the U.S. government to respond to growing concern about the impact of HIV/AIDS on racial and ethnic minorities. It provides funding to strengthen organizational capacity and expand HIV-related services in minority communities.

  • National Survey of Latinos: Politics and Civic Participation, Summary and Chartpack

    Poll Finding

    The chartpack and summary of findings from a comprehensive survey that assesses Latino attitudes in the 2004 election year. The third annual survey of Latinos from the Pew Hispanic Center and the Kaiser Family Foundation, the new survey examines political issues and the presidential election campaign, the economy, health care, Iraq and immigration.

  • Health Care Experiences – 2002 National Survey of Latinos Survey Brief

    Poll Finding

    This survey brief of new analysis from the 2002 National Survey of Latinos examines Latinos experiences with health care in the United States. Topics discussed include coverage, accessing health care services, and communicating with health care providers. Survey Brief (.

  • Survey Briefs From the 2002 National Survey of Latinos

    Poll Finding

    In 2002 the Pew Hispanic Center and the Kaiser Family Foundation conducted a national survey of Latinos, which explored the attitudes and experiences of the Hispanic population in the United States on topics such as identity, assimilation, discrimination, and health care.

  • American Indians and Alaska Natives: Health Coverage and Access to Care

    Fact Sheet

    American Indians and Alaska Natives: Health Coverage Access to Care, Fact Sheet A fact sheet examining health coverage and access to care among American Indians and Alaska Natives. This fact sheet is an update to a KCMU fact on the subject issued in June 2000 (#2198). Fact Sheet (.