Racial and ethnic disparities in health care access, quality, and outcomes have been well documented in Massachusetts and across the country. Many in the Commonwealth feel a moral imperative to correct these racial and ethnic health disparities and see the opportunity to be a leader on this issue as the state has been in other health reform initiatives. This study, commissioned by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation in collaboration with the Health Equity Compact, aims to quantify that economic burden associated with solutions for reducing inequities in health (which require investments of time and resources for which there will always be competing priorities.)
This study found that the economic burden due to health inequities experienced by Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian populations in Massachusetts total $5.9 billion each year. If action is not taken, the economic burden of health inequities experienced by populations of color in Massachusetts will almost double by 2050 through population growth alone, reaching $11.2 billion.
Solutions to these inequities will require the commitment of a broad spectrum of stakeholders who are willing to bring the same sense of “shared responsibility” to reducing disparities and inequities that drove previous health reform efforts in the state.
Contact: 617.246.6783.