By The Numbers: Health Inequalities From Economics And Race: People have long known that health in the U.S. is not an equal thing. But now, thanks to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are numbers to prove it.
The first-ever 'Health Disparites and Inequalities Report' shows startling differences in things like national mortality rates, behavioral risk factors and access to health care across various economic and racial groups in the U.S. According to the CDC, the goal is to now use the compiled data as benchmark for future progress. Additionally, by quantifying and highlighting major health disparities, the CDC hopes to inspire action and 'facilitate accountability.'
Some of the starkest findings of the report center around the dramatic disparities between high- and low-income Americans. Low-income residents report up to 11 fewer 'healthy' days per month than their high-income counterparts. Also notable: Preventable hospitilzation rates increase greatly as income decreases.
