Decades of Work to Reduce Disparities in Health Care Produce Limited Success

Abstract

THE EARLYWEEKSOF 2008 BROUGHT discouraging news for advocates working to narrow health care disparities among racial and ethnic groups. In rapid succession, several studies published in January in peer-reviewed journals showed that despite decades of efforts to raise awareness about disparities and to reduce them, the gaps in some key treatment areas have not budged. The latest findings build on years of research that has established the extent of inequalities in treatment for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and many other conditions.