Reducing disparities in lipid testing for African-Americans with diabetes: interim report

Health care disparities exist throughout the United States. MetaStar, the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Wisconsin, has developed a project designed to define, study, and reduce an identifiable health care disparity in Wisconsin. A disparity of 17% exists between the rate that African-American Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes and non-African-American Medicare beneficiaries receive lipid panel tests in Wisconsin. This article reviews the various methods that MetaStar has used to learn about this disparity, the African-American community, and the providers who serve this population. In addition, interventions developed from the information gathered through the learning activities are briefly described.