Hospitals Reduce Disparities in CMS Inpatient Core Measures

Between 2005 and 2010, disparities in care between white and black patients fell for 13 of the 17 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services inpatient process measures. Disparities between white and Hispanic patients fell for 14 of the measures, according to a report published in the Dec. 14, 2014, New England Journal of Medicine. For example, compliance in using percutaneous coronary intervention, also known as angioplasty, within 90 minutes after arrival at the hospital rose to 91.7 percent from 43.4 percent among white patients; climbed to 86.3 percent from 29.2 percent among black patients; and climbed to 89.7 percent from 34.1 percent among Hispanic patients. Pneumonia care and vaccination rates against influenza also improved. www.nejm.org