Reducing Healthcare Disparities
Reducing healthcare disparities for underserved populations is a significant challenge, requiring a major commitment to identify and address unique racial and ethnic factors contributing to the disparate burden of disease and disability. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sponsors a wide range of activities to reduce disparities. Through KFMC, the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Kansas, CMS aims to improve the health status of underserved consumers by increasing their use of preventive services in three clinical areas: breast cancer, adult immunizations and diabetes. In addition, KFMC educates providers to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS). Quality improvement is the cornerstone of this initiative. The goal is to ensure that all people on Medicare, regardless of culture or language, have their individual healthcare needs met.
The priority topics for Reducing Healthcare Disparities are: