Trust for America's Health Initiatives

Health Disparities

Health Disparities

Every American should have the opportunity to be as healthy as he or she can be. But now, health varies dramatically from state to state and community to community. Access to good medical care is obviously one important factor that impacts how healthy a person is, but a number of other factors play a role in health beyond medical care. In fact, many researchers have found that where you live, your income level, socio-economic group, and behavior often impact your health more than either genetics or access to medical care.

Health disparities are a significant threat to our nation's health. Low-income and minority communities systematically have less access to health care, higher exposure to health threats, and worse health outcomes.

TFAH addresses health disparities and factors that are beyond individual control, often called "social determinants," as a central part of our work. TFAH advocates for strategies to improve the health of all Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity, income or where they live.

Policy and Advocacy

For TFAH position statements and letters, congressional hearings, briefings and testimony, and additional policy and advocacy materials, click here.

Press Releases

June 20, 2017
Public Health Leaders Make Urgent Joint Call to Protect Prevention and Healthcare Joint Statement from American Public Health Association, Prevention Institute, Public Health Institute and Trust for America’s Health

May 23, 2017
The President’s FY 2018 Budget Proposal Would be Perilous for the Nation’s Health

March 7, 2017
TFAH Statement: Strongly Opposed to the House Obamacare Replacement Bill

February 24, 2017
TFAH Statement on the Draft House Republican Obamacare Replacement Bill: Our Nation’s Health Will Suffer

January 19, 2017
CDC to Lose More than $5 Billion, States to Lose More than $3 Billion to Fight Health Epidemics over Five Years, if the ACA and Prevention and Public Health Fund are Repealed

More press releases

Resources

Selected items from TFAH's Resource Library:

CDC's Pandemic Flu Website "An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of a new influenza A virus. Pandemics happen when new (novel) influenza A viruses emerge which are able to infect people easily and spread from person to person in an efficient and sustained way. The United States is NOT currently experiencing an influenza pandemic."

A virtual guide of the symptoms of Hepatitis C and how it affects the body Hepatitis C is a viral disease that primarily causes inflammation of the liver, but the effects can be felt throughout the body. Hepatitis C is caused by a virus that is passed through contact with the blood of an infected person. The infection leads to inflammation of the liver.

Addiction Center: Health Effects of Youth Substance Abuse Addiction Center was founded by recovering addicts and health professionals to provide the most up-to-date information on various addictions and reviews of top treatment centers across the country.

Addressing the Social Determinants of Health Inequities Among Gay Men & Men Who Have Sex With Men With support from the M·A·C AIDS Fund, TFAH undertook a literature review and convened a one-day consultation to consider strategies to mitigate the social determinants of health inequities among gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM).† Invited participants included research scientists, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)‡ health service providers, public policy advocates, and federal officials.*

Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation, focusing on the major health care issues facing the U.S. Their three major focus points are policy analysis and research, acting as a clearinghouse for public health and policy information, and developing and running large-scale public health information campaigns in the United States and around the world.

More resources