The latest
National
Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report from HHS finds significant
improvement in access to health care across groups in 2014, likely due to the
Affordable Care Act. Released earlier this month, the annual report tracks over
250 measures of quality and disparities in health care. Along with other northeastern
states, Connecticut performed well in the quality of care. However there is room
for improvement in addressing disparities. For example, just over 20% of both
Hispanics and Blacks in Connecticut reported not seeing a doctor when needed
due to cost in the last year, compared with 7.5% of whites. Overall Americans’
quality of care has improved across most metrics. Improvement in patient safety
was remarkable with 17% fewer hospital-acquired conditions saving an estimated
$12 billion. However few disparities were eliminated; poor Americans continue
to experience less access to care and poorer quality. Two bright spots were the
elimination of disparities in some childhood immunization rates and rates of
adverse events. However some disparities in hospice care and chronic disease
management got worse. Challenges remain.
