Reducing Disparities in Lipid Testing for African-Americans with Diabetes: Interim Report

Abstract

Health care disparities exist throughout the United States. MetaStar, the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Wisconsin, has developed a project designed to define, study, and reduce an identifiable health care disparity in Wisconsin. A disparity of 17% exists between the rate that African-American Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes and non-African-American Medicare beneficiaries receive lipid panel tests in Wisconsin. This article reviews the various methods that MetaStar has used to learn about this disparity, the African-American community, and the providers who serve this population. In addition, interventions developed from the information gathered through the learning activities are briefly described.

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