Overcoming disparities in U.S. health care

Abstract

Disparities in U.S. health care result from a complex mixture of systemic quality and access problems intertwined with historic injury. The many dimensions of health disparities include race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geography. It is critically important for policymakers to define the problem correctly so that our solutions address their intended goal-health security for all regardless of socioeconomic characteristics. Further, U.S. efforts to eliminate disparities must also be part of a broader effort to transform health care and thus must focus, first and foremost, on improving the quality of care delivered to the individual patient.