Racism and Bias Cited as Causes of Racial Health Disparities at Connecticut Conference

Speaking on Sept. 13 at the Connecticut Health Foundation's conference on racial and ethnic health disparities, Dr. Rodney Hood, a San Diego physician and former president of the National Medical Association, said that discrepancies in health outcomes are caused by "culturally inappropriate health care, racial bias and racism," the Hartford Courant reports. Hood said diet, genetics and poor access to care contribute to health disparities and these factors are driven by "deeper causes," including racism. Hood noted that several studies have shown minorities are more "at risk" of receiving lower quality care than whites in the United States. For instance, an Institute of Medicine report found that minority patients receive a lower quality of care than whites, even when insurance status, age and income are comparable. Hood added that the disparities result in 91,000 preventable deaths each year. He also noted African Americans have a rate of cancer and heart disease 35% higher and a diabetes rate 70% higher than whites. To address disparities, Hood said that "candor and education are essential," the Courant reports. "It's not just money. We are spending plenty of money on health care. It's just not doing what it's supposed to do," he added. For its part, the foundation plans to spend $1 million in grants on programs designed to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities (Condon, Hartford Courant, 8/14).