Study Points to Billions in Excess Costs From Racial Disparities in Health

(Sept. 17, 2009) The Joint Center’s Health Policy Institute will unveil a study that estimates the direct medical costs of racial inequalities in health status and access to quality care. Findings will include specific estimates on the combined costs of health inequities for minorities over a three-year period (2003-2006), as well as estimates of how much in direct and indirect costs could have been saved in our health care system during that same period if those disparities for minorities had been eliminated.

The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as Ralph B. Everett, president and CEO, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies are featured speakers. The findings from the study will be presented Thursday, September 17th at the National Press Club. The briefing will also be available with a live Webcast at 8:15 a.m. Eastern Time.

In 2002, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation funded the creation of the Health Policy Institute at the Joint Center, and continues to support many of its efforts.