News You Can Use: NBGH releases issue brief on health care disparities

Perhaps great minds think alike. Fresh off of EBN's April coverage of health care disparities, the National Business Group on Health las week released an issue brief, "Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: A Business Case Update for Employers," part of a two-year major initiative to help employers reduce racial and ethnic health disparities in the workplace and improve the quality of health care for minority populations.

NBGH has partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services´ Office of Minority Health to strengthen ongoing partnerships and build new business-community coalitions to help reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. One outcome of this initiative was the development of information and tools to help employers address disparities.

"Some employers go to great lengths to attract a diverse workforce. But they may not realize that these populations have diverse health needs and may experience different treatments when they seek health care," says Helen Darling, NBGH president. "Despite employers´ best intentions, the fact is that disparities in health and health care exist, even among employees with equal benefits. We believe this issue brief will be an important tool to help employers take on the challenge of reducing health disparities."

Were you aware of health care disparities facing miniorities? What steps are you taking to help your company address them?