2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report | Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality

2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report | Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality

2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report

For the 16th year in a row, AHRQ is reporting on healthcare quality and disparities. The annual National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report is mandated by Congress to provide a comprehensive overview of the quality of healthcare received by the general U.S. population and disparities in care experienced by different racial and socioeconomic groups. The report is produced with the help of an Interagency Work Group led by AHRQ.

Introduction

The National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report assesses the performance of our healthcare system and identifies areas of strengths and weaknesses, as well as disparities, for access to healthcare and quality of healthcare. Quality is described in terms of six priorities: patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, effective treatment, healthy living, and care affordability. The report is based on more than 250 measures of quality and disparities covering a broad array of healthcare services and settings.

Report Files

AHRQ no longer offers print copies of the report, but the files are set up for two-sided color printing and may be downloaded free of charge. If you have questions about printing or copying, contact Doreen Bonnett at 301-427-1899 or doreen.bonnett@ahrq.hhs.gov. 

• Introduction and Methods (PDF, 1 MB)
• Executive Summary (PowerPoint, 2.5 MB)
• Report and Appendixes B and C (PDF, 3.37 MB)
  • Appendix B. Definitions and Abbreviations Used in 2018 Report
  • Appendix C. Data Sources Used for 2018 Report
• Appendix A. List of Measures and Summary of Results for Figures (PDF, 4.75 MB)
  • Appendix A.1. Access to Care (PDF, 134.75 KB)
  • Appendix A.2. Quality Trends (PDF, 148.8 KB)
  • Appendix A.3. Disparities: Race and Ethnicity (PDF, 1.8 MB)
  • Appendix A.4. Disparities: Income (PDF, 1 MB)
  • Appendix A.5. Disparities: Insurance Status (PDF, 277.25 KB)
  • Appendix A.6. Disparities: Residence Location (PDF, 663.2 KB)
• Additional Methods Information
  • Detailed Methods for the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (PDF, 342.4 KB)

Related Data and Tools

• Quality and Disparities Report Data and Tools
• Data Query (search data across specific measures)

Page last reviewed September 2019
Page originally created September 2019

Internet Citation: 2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report. Content last reviewed September 2019. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqdr18/index.html