The National Academies Testimony before Congress

Public Laws Containing Studies for the National Academies

Briefings to Congress

Congressionally Mandated Reports

Policy Statements and Historical Documents

The OCGA staff

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
National Research Council
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
Committee on National Statistics
Panel on DHHS Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data

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Congressional Briefings
Thursday, April 29, 2004 -- 2:30 p.m.
527 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
and
Friday, April 30, 2004 -- 10:00 a.m.
461 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.

on

Eliminating Health Disparities: Measurement and Data Needs

In response to a request by Congress in PL 106-525, this new study from the National Research Council examines the quality of systems used by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to collect information about the race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status of various populations, and any data collection or reporting systems required under Department programs. The report reviews the data needs for evaluating the effects of socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity on access to health care and on disparity in health and other social outcomes and the data needed to enforce existing protections for equal access to heath care. It also evaluates the effectiveness of the data systems and collection practices of DHHS and identifies critical gaps in the data, suggesting ways in which they could be filled.

These series of briefings were for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on April 30, 2004 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.