Same System, Different Outcomes: Why Health Care Inequity Persists in the U.S.

By Anissa Durham | Word In Black (WIB) – Efforts to advance racial equity in the American health care system continue to fall short. A new report by the Commonwealth Fund found that deep-seated racial and ethnic health disparities persist across the U.S., even in states with high-performing health care systems.   Some of the contributing factors to these widespread inequities are poverty rates, lack of affordable and quality health care options, medical debt, worse medical treatment for people of color, and housing segregation. & Unfortunately, this isn’t surprising.& Why this matters:& Black Americans are dying at higher rates from preventable and treatable illnesses and diseases than other racial and ethnic groups. & Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native people historically have lower life expectancies compared to other groups in the U.S. However, the report found that preventable mortality rates are higher for both Black and white residents in several southern and south-central states —Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri.& Related:& Discrimination in Health Care Continues. Here’s What Needs to Change& There are differences in mortality rates for conditions that are considered treatable. For example, breast cancer is considered treatable when detected early but is more likely to be diagnosed...