HEALTHY INDIANA – A MINORITY HEALTH PLAN FOR THE STATE OF INDIANA

Abstract

We are proud to present the Healthy Indiana - Minority Health Plan for the State of Indiana. This is another significant step forward in addressing the health disparities of minorities in our state. In March 2002, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report with startling revelations about health care delivery for minorities. The report was titled "Unequal Treatment: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know About Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare." Not surprisingly, the IOM found that the vast majority of studies indicted that minorities are less likely than whites to receive needed services, including clinically necessary procedures. These disparities existed in a number of disease areas, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and mental illness, and are found across a range of procedures, including routine treatments for common health problems. Mortality for many chronic diseases is 1.5 to 2.5 times higher for minorities.