Medicare should help fix disparities
Sometimes, the reach and power of the federal government can do things private industry can't. That, at least, is the conclusion drawn by the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI), which just released a report suggesting that the Medicare program should take a far more active role in fixing known ways in which care lags behind for racial and ethnic minorities. A study panel is recommending that Medicare make reducing minority care disparities a top administrative priority. Among other things, they suggest that Medicare work to educate health professionals on diversity and cultural competence, hold providers responsible for reducing disparities and increase financial access to care and healthcare providers. Release