What's New

	Statement from the National Cancer Institute on FDA Approval of the HPV Vaccine Summary: On June 8, 2006 the National Cancer Institute posted a press release announcing the approval by the Food and Drug Administration of the vaccine GardasilTM, which protects against infection from the two types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the cause of the majority of cervical cancers worldwide.
	Changing Healthcare Professionals’ Behaviors to Eliminate Disparities in Healthcare: What Do We Know? How Might We Proceed? Author: Ronnie D. Horner, PhD; William Salazar, MD; H. Jack Geiger, MD, MPH, DSc; Kim Bullock, MD; Giselle Corbie-Smith, MD; Martha Cornog, MA, MS; and Glenn Flores, MD; for the Working Group on Changing Health Care Professionals’ Behavior Source: The American Journal of Managed Care, September 2004 Summary: This paper presents findings from a working group asked to identify ways to improve healthcare providers’ cultural competency. The group was formed by the Office of Minority Health, Department of Health and Human Services. The panel identified interventions most likely to improve the cross-cultural competency of healthcare providers. For each intervention identified, methods for implementation were specified. On-going evaluations of processes of care using race/ethnicity data were recommended to ensure the programs were functioning.
	Distributive Justice in American Healthcare: Institutions, Power, and the Equitable Care of Patients Author: Robert W. Putsch, MD; and Linda Pololi, MD Source: The American Journal of Managed Care, September 2004 Summary: The authors argue that the American healthcare system has developed in a fashion that permits and may support ongoing, widespread inequities based on poverty, race, gender, and ethnicity. Institutional structures also contribute to this problem. Analysis is based on (1) discussions of a group of experts convened by the Office of Minority Health, US Department of Health and Human Services at a conference to address healthcare disparities; and (2) review of documentation and scientific literature focused on health, health-related news, language, healthcare financing, and the law.
	Healthcare Disparities and Models for Change Author: Claudia R. Baquet, MD, MPH; Olivia Carter-Pokras, PhD; and Barbara Bengen-Seltzer, MA, MBA Source: American Journal of Managed Care, September 2004 Summary: Working models that have successfully reduced health disparities in managed care settings were presented at the National Managed Health Care Congress Inaugural Forum on Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care on March 10-11, 2003, in Washington, DC. These models are being used by federal, state, and municipal governments, as well as private, commercial, and Medicaid MCOs.
	The Role of Culturally Competent Communication in Reducing Ethnic and Racial Healthcare Disparities Author: Stephanie L. Taylor, PhD, MPH; and Nicole Lurie, MD, MSPH Source: American Journal of Managed Care, September 2004 Summary: This commentary summarizes the importance of culturally competent communication across several levels of the healthcare system and details concrete steps that managed care organizations can take to maximize their ability to provide culturally competent communication and care.
	Cultural Competency as It Intersects With Racial/Ethnic, Linguistic, and Class Disparities in Managed Healthcare Organizations Author: Ruth Enid Zambrana, PhD; Christine Molnar, MS; Helen Baras Munoz, PhD; and Debbie Salas Lopez, MD Source: American Journal of Managed Care, September 2004 Summary: This paper identifies strategies to reduce disparities in access to healthcare that call for partnerships across government agencies and between federal and state governments, provider institutions, and community organizations. Lessons learned from successful precedents must drive the development of new programs in Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to reduce disparities. Collection of population-based data and analyses by race, ethnicity, education level, and patient's primary language are critical steps for MCOs to better understand their patients' healthcare status and improve their care.
	Good Provider, Good Patient: Changing Behaviors to Eliminate Disparities in Healthcare Author: Heike Thiel de Bocanegra, PhD, MPH; and Francesca Gany, MD, MS Source: American Journal of Managed Care, September 2004 Summary: The authors examined the relationship between cross-cultural provider-patient interactions and health outcomes through a literature review. Results were presented in the form of guiding principles to an expert panel of health care administrators, medical practitioners, and medical care providers. This expert panel met at the workshop "Changing Patient Behavior" during a conference convened by the office of Minority Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, February 17-18, 2000. The panel reviewed the themes and formulated suggestions for program and policy change.
	Providing Linguistically Appropriate Services to Persons With Limited English Proficiency: A Needs and Resources Investigation Author: Olivia Carter-Pokras, PhD; Marla J.F. O’Neill, MD; Vasana Cheanvechai, MD; Mikhail Menis, PharmD; Tao Fan; and Angelo Solera Source: American Journal of Managed Care, September 2004 Summary: A questionnaire was developed and distributed to clinical practice managers at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine to assess the needs for language interpretation services and resources among clinical faculty providing healthcare to persons with limited English proficiency (LEP). Literature review, search of key Web sites, and consultation with national experts on issues pertaining to language access, health services, and reimbursement strategies also were done. Then, recommendations regarding the costs and benefits of language interpretation in healthcare settings were developed.
	New HIV/AIDS Observances Toolkit Available Author/Source: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health Summary: In June of 2004, the Office of Minority Health Resource Center published a unified toolkit designed to help organizations successfully promote local events for national AIDS/HIV observances. The toolkit contains sample press releases and interview availability announcements, as well as other promotional ideas. This new toolkit is part of a revamped "HIV/AIDS Observances" section on the Office of Minority Health web site.