Business group on health addresses health disparities
Business group on health addresses health disparities
The National Business Group on Health, a Washington, DC-based non-profit association of more than 300 large U.S. employers, has released an Issue Brief, "Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: A Business Case Update for Employers."
The brief is part of a two-year major initiative to help employers reduce racial and ethnic health disparities in the workplace and improve the quality of health care for minority populations.
In early 2008, the business group and the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS') Office of Minority Health (OMH) announced a two-year effort to strengthen ongoing partnerships and build new business-community coalitions to help reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. One outcome of this initiative was the development of information and tools, including an issue brief, to help employers address disparities.
"Some employers go to great lengths to attract a diverse workforce. But they may not realize that these populations have diverse health needs and may experience different treatments when they seek health care," said Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health. "Despite employers' best intentions, the fact is that disparities in health and health care exist, even among employees with equal benefits. We believe this issue brief will be an important tool to help employers take on the challenge of reducing health disparities."
The 18-page brief defines health disparities, identifies the key factors that contribute to disparities, discusses how disparities affect employers, and provides the rationale for employer efforts to address disparities, and explains how employers stand to benefit in direct and indirect costs. The brief also examines the role employers can play as part of the health disparities solution including a step-by-step strategy that includes understanding the legal myths and realities surrounding collection of racial and ethnic data. It also covers determining what data to collect, measure, and use, and how to work with employees, health plans, and health care vendors. Health disparities resources for employees and health providers are also included in the brief.
Copies of the brief are available at www.businessgrouphealth.org/pdfs/Final%20Draft%20508.pdf.
The National Business Group on Health, a Washington, DC-based non-profit association of more than 300 large U.S. employers, has released an Issue Brief, "Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: A Business Case Update for Employers."Subscribe Now for Access
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