Detroit Evening Report: New report highlights health care disparities for Michigan’s Black residents
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Michigan isn’t providing fair and equal health care services to all races, according to a new report from the nonprofit research firm The Commonwealth Fund.
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The state ranked 29th out of 39 states examined in overall health care delivered to Black residents in the organization’s 2024 State Health Disparities Report. Michigan also had a below average health system performance for white residents in comparison to other states.
This issue of poor health care is a national issue as much as it’s a Michigan issue. The study also showed that Black women’s maternal mortality is high in comparison to other high-income countries, and that Black Michiganders face premature death from preventable causes.
Policy changes are only part of the solution, according to the study. There needs to be investment in social services like housing, education, and other broad policy goals to better overall primary care.
Data in the report was assessed based on 25 indicators of health care performance, including quality of care, access to care, and health outcomes.
Other headlines for Friday, April 19, 2024:
- The Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani was in metro Detroit Thursday evening for a short visit.
- The Detroit People’s Food Co-op is less than a month away from its grand opening.
- GreenFest 2024 is taking place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21, at the Detroit Zoo.
- The Lions unveiled a modern classic version of their uniforms — plus a black alternate — during a season ticket-holder event at Ford Field on Thursday.
- The NFL Draft is coming up in Detroit and there are a lot of things to look forward to. One being the Pre-Draft Community Picnic at Roosevelt Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 20.
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