Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services granted more than $14 million to help eradicate health care disparities for the underserved, unemployed and minority communities.

From 2003 to 2006, $229.6 billion was the estimated U.S. cost of direct and indirect racial and ethnic disparities in health care, according to a recent study by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. By establishing health plans that reduce disparities, costs can be lowered.

Aon Consulting, the global benefits and human capital consulting business of Aon Corporation, offers the Culturally Competent Health Care program, which is designed to eliminate existing disparities in employer-sponsored plans. The program includes a series of questions used to evaluate cultural competency, Aon Consulting says. The data can be used by employers to select a health plan that matches financial, diversity and inclusion objectives. Additionally, the data can measure the provider's improvement based on agreed-upon goals.

Employers should also consider including cross-cultural expertise into the benefits discussion by bringing in the organizations chief diversity officer or other knowledgeable sources, Aon Consulting suggests.

"Cultural sensitivity and awareness is very important in understanding how workers make decisions about their health and interact with the medical care system," says Andy Hiles, senior vice president for large market growth and innovation at Aon Consulting. "At Aon, we have built a structured process to help our clients understand what their health plan partners are doing to provide the highest level and most efficient care to all members of the workforce.

"Encouraging organizations to think about health disparities in a more structured and positive way can result in a more equitable health care system, reduce costly disparities and improve the productivity of American companies all at the same time."

Though this program is not the single solution, it gives employers another option for enhancing employee health and medical plan results.

Instant Insights /

Eliminating disparities can lower health care costs

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