Strengthening Medicare's role in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities.

Abstract

The National Academy of Social Insurance's Study Panel on Medicare and Markets found significant racial, ethnic, and income-related disparities in preventive care, primary care, and essential medical and surgical treatments for Medicare beneficiaries and called for immediate remedial actions. In response to that charge, the academy convened a Study Panel on Medicare and Disparities to identify steps that Medicare can take to reduce disparities. The panel, chaired by Bruce C. Vladeck, included academics, health care practitioners, health plan administrators, and executives of health care companies and provider associations or alliances. This brief summarizes the panel's report. The full report is available on the academy's website, www.nasi.org. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided the primary financial support for this project. Additional funding was provided by The California Endowment and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.