Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Servicesgranted more than $14 million to help eradicate health caredisparities for the underserved, unemployed and minoritycommunities.

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

AonConsulting, the global benefits and human capitalconsulting business of Aon Corporation, offers the CulturallyCompetent Health Care program, which is designed to eliminateexisting disparities in employer-sponsored plans. The programincludes a series of questions used to evaluate culturalcompetency, Aon Consulting says. The data can be used by employersto select a health plan that matches financial, diversity andinclusion objectives. Additionally, the data can measure theprovider's improvement based on agreed-upon goals.

Employers should also consider including cross-culturalexpertise into the benefits discussion by bringing in theorganizations chief diversity officer or other knowledgeablesources, Aon Consulting suggests.

"Cultural sensitivity and awareness is very important inunderstanding how workers make decisions about their health andinteract with the medical care system," says Andy Hiles, seniorvice president for large market growth and innovation at AonConsulting. "At Aon, we have built a structured process to help ourclients understand what their health plan partners are doing toprovide the highest level and most efficient care to all members ofthe workforce.

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

Though this program is not the single solution, it givesemployers another option for enhancing employee health and medicalplan results.