Studies suggest that racial and ethnic (r/e) minorities suffer impeded access to health insurance and care. Those with access often receive poorer quality care and have worse outcomes than Whites. Preliminary investigation by the Office of Minority Health (OMH) indicates that health insurers and managed care organizations (MCOs) do not routinely collect r/e data, due in part to confusion regarding whether federal and state laws allow or prohibit such data collection. Only three states were found to prohibit health insurers and/or MCOs from collecting r/e data from applicants. No federal law prohibits such data collection.
OMH has contracted the National Health Law Program, Inc. to conduct further analysis of state laws, regulations, policies, and practices concerning the collection of r/e data by health insurers and managed care plans. Phase I of the project involved analyzing statutes, regulations and policies of the 50 states and the District of Columbia through the use of computerized legal research systems, Web sites and public record requests. Phase II will involve on-site visits to13 jurisdictions and will include interviews with insurance, MCO, and state administrators, and consumer groups, regarding their understanding of and perceptions about the state's law and policies as they relate to the collection of r/e data.
A clear understanding of state provisions regarding the collection and reporting of r/e data is a necessary foundation for any effort to measure accurately the health status and quality of services for populations being served and to address r/e health disparities.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Identify and address barriers to the collection and reporting of racial and ethnic data; 2. Evaluate recommendations for improving and standardizing the collection and reporting of racial and ethnic data for quality improvement; 3. Develop recommendations on education and training efforts for state officials, health insurers, MCOs and the general public in order to ensure appropriate and uniform understanding and application of the federal and state laws governing data collection; and 4. Recognize what is allowable and reasonable in order to remove existing barriers to data collection and to identify and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care.
Keywords: Data Collection, Minority Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Office of Minority Health, Department of Health & Human Services
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Government Contract