A Sense of Urgency for Addressing Health Disparities in Maryland

Although Maryland enjoys the third highest median income in the United States, the state suffers from some glaring health disparities that primarily affect the racial and ethnic minorities who make up nearly 42 percent of its population. But with renewed interest in health equity, the state is moving ahead aggressively to reduce disparities and improve health care for all residents. African Americans, who comprise 30 percent of the Maryland populations, have infant mortality rates almost three times higher than whites, and the incidence of new HIV infections is almost 12 times the rate for whites. Age adjusted death rates from all causes also are 1.25 percent higher. Hispanics and Latinos comprise 6.7 percent of Maryland's population, but they also show significant health disparities. Compared to rates for whites, the rate of end-stage kidney disease is 1.3 times higher and the rate of new HIV cases is 4 times higher. However, following the release of the latest Chartbook of Minority Health and Minority Health Disparities Data statistics, Maryland is now fighting back against health inequity using a variety of tools, ranging from targeted programs and a new State Health Improvement Process to 2012 legislation calling for new Health Enterprise Zones. Maryland's Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities has established work groups to implement action plans in five key areas: Raising awareness about health disparities; Strengthening health equity leadership; Improving health outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities; Building cultural competency in the health work force; and Honing research and evaluation techniques.