The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40272

Erica R. Berry, JD, MPH¹, Steve Hitov, JD¹, Jane Perkins, JD, MPH¹, Doreena Wong, JD¹, and Violet Woo, MS, MPH². (1) National Health Law Program, Inc., 1101 14th Street, N.W., Suite #405, Washington, DC 20005, 202-289-7661, berry@healthlaw.org, (2) Office of Minority Health (DHHS), 5515 Security Lane, 10th Floor, Rockville, MD 20852

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 health maintenance organizations (HMOs) do not routinely collect r/e data, which is partly due to confusion regarding whether federal and state laws allow or prohibit r/e data collection. No federal law prohibits such data collection.

OMH has contracted the National Health Law Program, Inc. to conduct further analysis of state policies and practices concerning the collection of r/e data by health insurers and managed care plans. Phase I involved analyzing statutes, regulations and policies of the 50 states and the District of Columbia via computerized legal research systems, Web sites and public record requests. Four states—CA, MD, NH and NJ—prohibit health insurers and/or HMOs from collecting r/e data on application forms. Only South Carolina requires the collection of such data.

Phase II involves visits to selected jurisdictions to interview representatives from state Departments of Insurance, Managed Care, Public Health, Medicaid, and Minority Health, and from private insurance and managed care organizations, regarding their understanding of the state's policies as they relate to the collection of r/e data.

An understanding of state provisions regarding the collection and reporting of r/e data is needed to accurately measure the health status of and quality of services for served populations and to address r/e health disparities.

Learning Objectives:

• Audience will learn of the need to ensure accurate understanding of and compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
• Audience will learn of the need to understand what is allowable versus prohibited by the state's law and regulations pertaining to the collection of racial and ethnic (r/e) data.
• Audience will learn of the impact of routine and accurate r/e data collection and analysis to assess and improve quality of care and progress towards eliminating health disparities.

Keywords: Minorities, Data Collection

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.