Florida’s new law preempting local heat protection measures for outdoor workers could disproportionately affect Hispanic and noncitizen immigrant workers, according to a KFF analysis of recent census data. The legislation, signed by Governor DeSantis on April 11 and set to take effect July 1, prevents local governments from requiring employers to provide heat protections beyond state or federal standards. This includes mandates for water breaks and cooling measures. The analysis shows that nearly 1.8 million nonelderly adult outdoor workers in Florida could be impacted. Hispanic workers make up 40% of this workforce, compared to 30% of the total workforce. Noncitizen…
Author: Disparity Matters
O.J. Simpson, the former NFL star and Heisman Trophy winner, died on April 10, 2024, at the age of 76 due to metastatic prostate cancer, as confirmed by his longtime attorney Malcolm LaVergne to PEOPLE on April 26. Simpson’s family announced his passing on X (formerly Twitter) the day after his death. Simpson, who was the first NFL player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season in 1973, had been battling prostate cancer since May 2023. Despite believing he had overcome the disease, the cancer returned aggressively, ultimately claiming his life. Prostate cancer disproportionately affects African American…
A new study published in Nature’s Schizophrenia journal has uncovered significant differences in schizophrenia treatments among patients of diverse races and ethnicities in the United States. The research, led by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, analyzed electronic health records (EHRs) from a large, diverse sample of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. The study found that the types of medications prescribed and the likelihood of receiving certain treatments varied based on a patient’s self-reported race and ethnicity. These disparities have far-reaching implications for quality of life and clinical outcomes. The researchers emphasize the urgent need to understand the origins…
Latino children in the United States face substantial obstacles in accessing quality health care compared to their white counterparts, a new study has found. The research, conducted by the Urban Institute and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, reveals persistent disparities in health insurance coverage, access to primary care, and utilization of preventive services. According to the study, Latino children are more than twice as likely to be uninsured compared to white children, with 9.3% of Latino children lacking health insurance versus 4.2% of white children. Furthermore, Latino children are less likely to have a usual source of care,…
An evaluation of a large cohort of colorectal cancer patients has revealed substantial racial disparities in overall survival and some interesting differences in driver mutations.“We found the difference in racial groups is not only about socioeconomic status but also about the contribution of cancer biology,” said Mahmoud Yousef, MD, a postdoctoral research fellow in GI oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, in Houston.Significant disparities in CRC mortality have long been observed among different racial groups, but they most commonly have been attributed to unequal access to healthcare and associated delays in diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Yousef…
A joint investigation by The Markup and The Washington Post has uncovered significant inequities in liver transplant access for Native Americans. Reporters Annie Gilbertson and Ben Tanen found that Native American people are much less likely than other racial groups to be placed on the national liver transplant list, despite having the highest mortality rate from liver disease. The investigation delved into the complex factors driving these disparities, including shortcomings in education efforts to reach transplant candidates and limited access to drug addiction treatment. The reporters faced challenges in data availability, particularly regarding racial disparities in transplant access. Gilbertson and…
Gun violence among Latinos in the United States has risen sharply in recent years, with survivors often facing steep medical bills and limited access to mental health resources. Between 2014 and 2020, the number of Hispanics killed by guns increased by 66%, compared to a 34% rise in overall gun deaths nationally, according to the Giffords organization. The impact of gun violence on Latino communities extends beyond immediate injuries, with long-lasting financial and emotional consequences. Survivors can face medical bills upwards of $200,000, and many struggle to afford follow-up care and mental health support. Cultural stigma and distrust of institutions can…
A new report from the Commonwealth Fund reveals persistent racial disparities in healthcare access, quality, and outcomes across the United States. The 2024 State Health Disparities Report highlights a sharp racial divide in premature deaths, particularly among American Indian and Black populations. The study assessed data from various racial and ethnic groups across 25 different measures, including healthcare access, quality, service utilization, and health outcomes. Even in states renowned for high-quality healthcare, such as Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Connecticut, people of color often experience significantly inferior care. Arnav Shah, coauthor of the report, pointed out that in Massachusetts, the Black population had the…
New guidelines are recommending that Black men begin prostate cancer screening as early as age 40, aiming to address stark racial disparities in diagnosis and mortality rates. The guidelines, developed by a panel of experts and presented at a recent cancer symposium, come in response to alarming statistics showing Black men are up to 110% more likely to develop prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from it compared to white men. “Early detection of prostate cancer is one of several factors that the panel believes could reduce prostate cancer morbidity and mortality in this high-risk population,” said Dr.…
A new study by UC Davis Health has uncovered significant racial and social disparities in access to a common bone marrow transplant treatment for multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells. The research, published in Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia, found that Black patients were less likely to receive autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (autoHCT) despite having a higher risk of developing the disease. The study analyzed data from three California health care organizations, examining autoHCT usage in patients diagnosed with myeloma between 1991 and 2016. Of the 29,109 patients studied, only 18.9% received autoHCT. Black patients, who have myeloma rates…