Measurements of health equity are important because two hospitals in the same community could have vastly different demographic characteristics, and the extent to which hospitals’ own policies and practices play a role in causing or perpetuating segregation of patient choice should be investigated.

U.S. News & World Report analysts evaluated the match up between each hospital’s Medicare beneficiary population in its surrounding community with its patients with Medicare undergoing typically elective procedures. Previous studies have shown Black patients were more likely to experience higher readmission rates compared with White patients after certain procedures, such as coronary artery bypass graft surgery or lumbar spinal fusion surgery. 

“Limitations notwithstanding, public reporting of these measures may bring awareness and resources to areas where improvements can be made to achieve health equity,” wrote first author Tavia Binger, MSPH, health data analyst at U.S. News & World Report, et al. “Like other elements of US News & World Report’s public reporting program, the health equity measure portfolio could be expected to expand and evolve.”