OVERVIEW
In 1985, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a landmark report
documenting the existence of health disparities for minorities in the United States. It called such
disparities, “an affront both to our ideals and to the ongoing genius of American medicine.” In the decades
since the release of that report much has changed in our society—including significant improvements in
health and health services throughout the nation. Nevertheless, health and healthcare disparities continue
to exist and, in some cases, the gap continues to grow for racial and ethnic minorities, the poor, and other
atrisk populations. Beyond the heavy burden that health disparities represent for the individuals affected,
there are additional social and financial burdens borne by the country as a whole. These burdens constitute
both ethical and practical mandates to reduce health disparities and achieve health equity.
New approaches and new partnerships are clearly needed to help close the health gap in the United
States. The National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities (NPA) was established to mobilize a
nationwide, comprehensive, communitydriven, and sustained approach to combating health disparities and
to move the nation toward achieving health equity. The mission of the NPA is to increase the effectiveness
of programs that target the elimination of health disparities through the coordination of partners, leaders,
and stakeholders committed to action. The NPA is a critical and innovative step forward in combating
health disparities by bringing individuals and organizations within the health sector together with other
individuals and organizations whose work influences health.
The initial and primary product of the NPA, the National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity
(National Stakeholder Strategy) provides an overarching roadmap for eliminating health disparities through
cooperative and strategic actions. The other two key components of the NPA include: Blueprints for Action
that are aligned with the National Stakeholder Strategy and guide action at the local, state, and regional
levels; and targeted initiatives that will be undertaken by partners across the public and private sectors in
support of the NPA.
In addition to the National Stakeholder Strategy launch, HHS jointly issued the first ever departmental
health disparities strategic action plan. The HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
is focused on improving the health status of vulnerable populations across the lifespan. It will assess the
impact of all HHS policies and programs on health disparities, promote integrated approaches among HHS
agencies, and drive the implementation of evidencebased programs and best practices.
Together, the HHS Strategic Action Plan and the National Stakeholder Strategy provide visible and
accountable federal leadership while also promoting collaborations among communities, states, tribes, the
private sector and other stakeholders to more effectively reduce health disparities
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