Addressing LGBT Health Disparities Across the Board

LGBT Health Awareness Week – Addressing LGBT Health Disparities Across the Board

March 28, 2016

By: Karen DeSalvo, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc., Acting Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) and National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)

When President Obama, joined by leaders throughout his Administration and in Congress, fought to pass the Affordable Care Act, he did it for one overwhelming reason: to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care.
He did it knowing that there were – and continue to be – groups facing significant health challenges in our country. And among those are our friends, family members, and neighbors in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
Disparities affect LGBT Americans: On average, they suffer from higher rates of cancer, obesity, tobacco use, HIV/AIDS, and mental illness than the rest of the nation. Working hand-in-hand with the community to face these disparities head-on is a priority for HHS. And while coverage is an important part of that mission, we must do more if we are going to level the playing field for this and every group.
That is why, as we recognize 2016 LGBT Health Awareness Week, I wanted to highlight some of the efforts we are undertaking in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health to make a meaningful impact across the country.
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