Minority Health

Published 05/02/2024

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that in the 2018 U.S. Census report, the year 2030 marks a demographic turning point for the United States. The nation’s population is projected to age considerably and become more racially and ethnically diverse. The population of people who are more than one race is projected to be the fastest growing racial or ethnic group over the next several decades, followed by Asian Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans.

This growing diversity will impact in our workforce, schools, environments and social settings. Though health indicators such as life expectancy and infant mortality have improved for most Americans, some people from racial and ethnic minority groups experience a disproportionate burden of preventable disease, death, and disability compared with non-Hispanic White people. (Reference: Minority Health.)

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. SDOH impact nearly everyone in one way or another, and simply promoting healthy choices won’t eliminate health disparities. Considering the unique environments, cultures, histories and circumstances of racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations is fundamental to improving health outcomes and reducing longstanding disparities and inequities.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) is committed to working with public health and community-based partners to be the source for better health by providing quality, equitable, and respectful care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, economic and environmental circumstances, and health literacy levels. When patients are provided with culturally and linguistically appropriate information, they are better able to create healthier outcomes for themselves, their families, and their communities.

In November 2023, The White House and HHS released several resources to help support federal agencies, states, and local and Tribal governments to better coordinate health care, public health, and social services:

According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, racial and ethnic minority populations throughout the United States experience higher rates of death and disease across a wide range of health conditions when compared to their white counterparts. Data analysis from 2022 found that adverse SDOH and health-related social needs were significantly higher across all other racial and ethnic groups except non-Hispanic Asian adults when compared with their white counterparts. Longstanding inequities in the five domains of SDOH influence a wide range of health risks and quality-of-life outcomes.

Non-medical factors like poverty, limited access to healthcare, lack of education, and racism are all examples of individual SDOH that contribute to health disparities and inequities. 

SDOH can be grouped into five domains:

  1. Economic Stability
     
  2. Education Access and Quality
     
  3. Healthcare Access and Quality
     
  4. Neighborhood and Built Environment
     
  5. Social and Community Context

Click here for more information: National Minority Health Month 2024 Take Action

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) offers a comprehensive source of information on eliminating health disparities and improving the health of people from all minority populations, like people from racial and ethnic minorities; people with disabilities; members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community; individuals with limited English proficiency; and rural communities. This office in CMS has designed several initiatives to eliminate disparities in health care quality and access, so that all CMS enrollees can achieve their highest level of health. Get involved to ensure that everyone can access the quality health care that they need.

CMS OMH offers resources and tools to help health care professionals, researchers, consumers, and community partners improve health outcomes and address health disparities. (Resource: Health Care Resource Center.)

Resources


Was this article helpful?