News & Announcements
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Report Highlights Disparities (posted 5/15)Posted: May 15, 2009
On May 6th the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released two reports in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that assess the status of health care quality in the United States and identify differences or gaps in healthcare quality or access. The first report, the National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) has been released each year since 2003 and reports on progress and opportunities for improving health care quality. The second report, the National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR) examines health care disparities as an integral part of improving overall health care quality. Both reports use 220 measures across four dimensions of quality: effectiveness, patient safety, timeliness, and patient centeredness. The NHDR report found that for both categories of measurement, quality of care and access to care, disparities persist for all populations. For Blacks, Asians, American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs), Hispanics, and poor people, at least 60% of measures of quality of care are not improving (either stayed the same or worsened). The report includes new measures on mental health treatment for depression to fill the data gap in this topic area that has existed in previous reports. Additionally, there are specific sections on HIV/AIDS and mental health and substance abuse in the Quality of Care Section. There is also a specific section in the Access to Care portion of the report devoted to mental health care & substance abuse. To download the reports directly from the HHS website click here . |
|