The HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Report on Health Care Quality and Disparities
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently released its annual National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report for 2014. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the quality of health care received by the general U.S. population and disparities in care experienced by different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Researchers tracked significant gains in health care access for previously uninsured adults due to the Affordable Care Act, as well as increased access to important screenings and services for children. The report also shows progress in several key quality improvement measures, including patient safety and gains in patient-centered care.
However, the report notes that disparities in health care access and outcomes persist. For example, lower income household generally experienced more limited access to care, and some disparities related to hospice care and chronic disease management grew larger. The report also recommends that data and measures need to be improved to better track health disparities among some populations, such as Native Hawaiians, people of multiple races, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
The AHRQ provides additional resources for advocates, researchers, and policy makers, including a Chartbook on Access to Health Care showing more detailed trends in disparities, access, and quality measures.
AHRQ’s New Behavioral Health Integration Tools
Evidence suggests that behavioral health integration—often referred to as collaborative care, integrated primary care, or integrated care—leads to improved care and reduced costs.
New resources from AHRQ can help practices integrate care more effectively:
- A Guidebook of Professional Practices for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration: Observations from Exemplary Sites (PDF File, 1.278 MB) identifies key professional practices among exemplary integrated primary care organizations. The report profiles eight leading primary care organizations that have successfully integrated behavioral health services.
- Provider- and Practice-Level Competencies for Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care: A Literature Review(PDF File, 624 KB) identifies a comprehensive set of competencies that practices, providers, and staff need to advance integration efforts.