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NORC at the University Chicago

Reducing Health Disparities Through Quality Improvement

A health provider holds a young child while another provider holds a stethoscope to his chest
Helping advance optimal health for all people served by Medicare and Medicaid services
  • Client
    Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health
  • Dates
    2014 – Present

Problem

Despite best intentions, differences in access, outcomes, and quality persist in many health care programs.

The federal government is the nation’s largest health insurer, providing coverage through its Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace programs to more than 110 million Americans. Enrollees in these programs include groups at increased risk for adverse health outcomes because of various social factors. The mission of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of Minority Health (OMH) is to advocate for policies and programs that advance optimal health for all people.

Solution

NORC is using data to identify differences in health care access, outcomes, and quality.

Since 2014, NORC at the University of Chicago has supported CMS OMH to ensure equitable access to federal health insurance programs and high-quality health care for all Americans. We do that by analyzing data—from existing government records to our own original research—for anomalies. These anomalies indicate differences in rates of service use by population groups and those groups’ health outcomes. We also work with CMS OMH to:  

  • Strengthen partnerships with stakeholders and communities
  • Review implications of policy and regulatory changes
  • Create educational materials for health care providers
  • Provide technical assistance to health care programs

Result

The nation’s largest health insurer is now better equipped to address differences in access, outcomes, and quality.

Our extensive behind-the-scenes work gives policymakers evidence, insights, and guidance to move closer to CMS’s goal of optiming health for all people served by CMS programs. 

Project Leads

Publications

Explore NORC Health Projects

National Social Life, Health & Aging Project

A pioneering nationally representative study of the intersection between social and intimate relationships and healthy aging

Client:

National Institute on Aging

Network for Community-Engaged Primary Care Research

Evaluating primary care interventions to improve health outcomes

Client:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

Community-Engaged Research on Gambling in Massachusetts

Understanding the impacts of gambling and sports betting on communities in Massachusetts

Client:

Massachusetts Gaming Commission
Health Projects