Race/ethnicity and OMB Directive 15: implications for state public health practice

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Health Equity

Background:

• The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revised its standards for collecting race and ethnicity data in 1997.
• State health departments face challenges in adapting to these new federal guidelines.
• Understanding these impacts is crucial for accurate public health surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the 1997 OMB revised standards on state health departments.
• To use the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) as a case study for implementation.
• To provide recommendations for states adopting these new data standards.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the revised OMB standards for race and ethnicity data collection.
• Assessment of existing data sets at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH).
• Evaluation of the effects on data collection, tabulation, analysis, and reporting.

Main Results:

• The revised OMB standards significantly impact state health departments, including the MDPH.
• Variations exist between federal and state agencies in data collection purposes and methodologies.
• These differences influence the successful implementation of the revised standards at the state level.

Conclusions:

• States must proactively plan for the implementation of revised OMB race and ethnicity data standards.
• The revision introduces complexities in data collection and analysis but enhances understanding of health-related disparities.
• Effective adaptation will improve the nuanced reporting of race and ethnicity in public health data.