Alabama Has Poor Health System Performance, Stark Health Care Disparities

A new report finds Alabama has some of the most severe disparities in health care outcomes among racial groups, reports the Alabama Reflector. The Commonwealth Fund report revealed Alabama only performed better than Tennessee, Kentucky, Wyoming, Arkansas, Oklahoma and West Virginia. While white Alabamians have better health outcomes than Black or Hispanic Alabamians, they trail health outcomes for white Americans overall. The starkest disparity is seen in infant mortality rates: white infant mortality reached an all-time low in 2021, while Black infant mortality tripled. The report assessed 25 metrics of care delivery and outcomes, including health indicators, care accessibility, and quality and utilization of services.