Action Area:
Health Outcomes
Key HSIN Measure:
Health Disparities
Health disparities are differences in the incidence or prevalence
of illnesses, injuries, deaths or receipt of health services between
sub-groups within the population. In Washington, as in all states,
these disparities are most prominent between whites and several
racial and ethnic groups including Hispanics, African Americans,
Native Americans and Asian/Pacific Islanders. The Washington Health
Foundation (WHF) found these disparities in most of the Outcomes
and Key Measures we have adopted to guide the HSIN Campaign.1
Washington cannot become the Healthiest State in the Nation if
disparities persist in illness rates and in the health care received
by our state's growing proportion of racial and ethnic minorities.
WHF stands ready to support any systemic reform proven to address
health disparities in any Healthiest State in the Nation action
area. However, awareness of the problem is low in most quarters,
and social consensus on solutions may be even lower, presenting
a real challenge for policy leadership.
1http://www.doh.wa.gov/HWS/doc/HWS2004Supp.pdf
2006 Washington State Legislative Bill Watch:
| 2SSB
6193 |
Requiring surveys of health professions work
force supply and demographics |
| ESB
6194 |
Requiring multicultural education for health professionals |
| 2SSB
6195 |
Requiring health impact assessments |
| SSB
6196 |
Including a member of the American Indian Health Commission
for Washington State on the State Board of Health |
| 2SSB
6197 |
Creating the Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities |