Improving Data Collection to Reduce Health Disparities

Abstract

Many racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities, and other commonly underserved populations face unique health challenges, have reduced access to health care and insurance, and often pay the price with poorer health throughout their lives. These underserved populations are less likely to get the preventive care they need to stay healthy and are more likely to suffer from serious illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. When these populations do get sick, they are less likely to have access to quality health care. As a result, health disparities persist.