NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS COVID-19 HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG POPULATIONS AT HIGH-RISK AND UNDERSERVED, INCLUDING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES - RECENT PUBLICATIONS BY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIGHLIGHT THE STARK HEALTH DISPARITIES EXACERBATED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FOR BLACK, HISPANIC, NATIVE AMERICAN, AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER POPULATIONS, ARISING FROM SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES, LACK OF CULTURALLY ACCESSIBLE CARE, AND OTHER LIVING, WORKING, AND HEALTH CONDITIONS. THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE SUFFERED FROM HIGHER BURDENS OF INFECTION, HOSPITALIZATION, AND DEATH WITH INADEQUATE ACCESS TO TESTING AND VACCINATION. RURAL COMMUNITIES, MANY LACKING BASIC ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES, HAVE ALSO BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC. KANSAS HAS UNFORTUNATELY MIRRORED MANY OF THESE NATIONAL FINDINGS. HOWEVER, KANSAS IS ALSO COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING DISPARITIES FACED BY PEOPLE IN OUR STATE, INCLUDING THROUGH INCREASING CAPACIT

Summary

NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS COVID-19 HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG POPULATIONS AT HIGH-RISK AND UNDERSERVED, INCLUDING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES - RECENT PUBLICATIONS BY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIGHLIGHT THE STARK HEALTH DISPARITIES EXACERBATED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FOR BLACK, HISPANIC, NATIVE AMERICAN, AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER POPULATIONS, ARISING FROM SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES, LACK OF CULTURALLY ACCESSIBLE CARE, AND OTHER LIVING, WORKING, AND HEALTH CONDITIONS. THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE SUFFERED FROM HIGHER BURDENS OF INFECTION, HOSPITALIZATION, AND DEATH WITH INADEQUATE ACCESS TO TESTING AND VACCINATION. RURAL COMMUNITIES, MANY LACKING BASIC ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES, HAVE ALSO BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC. KANSAS HAS UNFORTUNATELY MIRRORED MANY OF THESE NATIONAL FINDINGS. HOWEVER, KANSAS IS ALSO COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING DISPARITIES FACED BY PEOPLE IN OUR STATE, INCLUDING THROUGH INCREASING CAPACIT