§ 1396w–5 — Addressing Health Care Disparities

(a) The Secretary shall evaluate approaches for the collection of data under this subchapter and subchapter XXI, to be performed in conjunction with existing quality reporting requirements and programs under this subchapter and subchapter XXI, that allow for the ongoing, accurate, and timely collection and evaluation of data on disparities in health care services and performance on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, and disability status. In conducting such evaluation, the Secretary shall consider the following objectives: (1) Protecting patient privacy. (2) Minimizing the administrative burdens of data collection and reporting on States, providers, and health plans participating under this subchapter or subchapter XXI. (3) Improving program data under this subchapter and subchapter XXI on race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, and disability status. (1) Not later than 18 months after March 23, 2010, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the evaluation conducted under subsection (a). Such report shall, taking into consideration the results of such evaluation— (A) identify approaches (including defining methodologies) for identifying and collecting and evaluating data on health care disparities on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, and disability status for the programs under this subchapter and subchapter XXI; and (B) include recommendations on the most effective strategies and approaches to reporting HEDIS quality measures as required under section 1395w–22(e)(3) of this title and other nationally recognized quality performance measures, as appropriate, on such bases. (2) Not later than 4 years after March 23, 2010, and 4 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes recommendations for improving the identification of health care disparities for beneficiaries under this subchapter and under subchapter XXI based on analyses of the data collected under subsection (c). (c) Not later than 24 months after March 23, 2010, the Secretary shall implement the approaches identified in the report submitted under subsection (b)(1) for the ongoing, accurate, and timely collection and evaluation of data on health care disparities on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, and disability status.