HHS Secretary Sebelius on Healthcare Quality

The new health care reform law will continue to be a topic of discussion. On April 13, 2010, the 2009 National Healthcare Disparities Report and the National Healthcare Quality Report were released by the agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Following the release of the reports, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued comments addressing the disparities present among different ethnic, racial, as well as income groups.

Secretary Sebeluis said, “In 2009, healthcare associated infections increased and minorities were less likely to have insurance and less likely to get the treatments they needed.”

Sebeluis commented on how these reports show why passing healthcare reform was so critical. She says, “In a reformed system, more Americans get the care they need, regardless of their race or ethnicity and the quality of care will improve. The numbers we saw today are troubling, but ultimately, reform will help turn these numbers around.”

The largest disparity found was in preventive care. The new health care reform law gives all citizens free preventive services to prevent illness and diseases before they turn into a more expensive surgery or treatment.