Study Examines the Economy’s Effect on Health Insurance, JAMA Commentary Discusses Racial Disparities

• "The U.S. Economy and Changes in Health Insurance Coverage, 2000-2006," Health Affairs: The Web exclusive, by Urban Institute researchers John Holahan and Allison Cook, finds that the number of uninsured U.S. residents increased by 3.4 million from 2004 to 2006 despite a resurgent economy at the time. The study is based on data from 2000, 2005 and 2007 March supplements to the Current Population Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the study, on an annual basis, the ranks of the uninsured grew faster in 2005 and 2006 than they did between 2000 and 2004, when six million people became uninsured. Holahan and Cook also discuss the role of employer coverage in uninsurance rates (Health Affairs release, 2/20).
  
  
• "Who Is Accountable for Racial Equity in Health Care," Journal of the American Medical Association: The JAMA commentary by Jan Blustein of the New York University School of Medicine discusses factors contributing to racial and ethnic health care disparities in the U.S. Blustein discusses how race affects hospital revenue, as minority patients are more likely to be uninsured or have Medicaid, and how depleted finances stemming from the "racial payer gap" affect hospitals' abilities to attract qualified staff and maintain infrastructure and health care performance. Blustein also makes recommendations for reducing racial health care disparities (Blustein, JAMA, 2/20).