A Community Mobilizes to End Medical Apartheid

Problem: People of color suffer worse health outcomes than their White counterparts due, in part, to limited access to high-quality specialty care.

Purpose: This article describes the events that led to the Bronx Health REACH coalition’s decision to file a civil rights complaint with the New York State Office of the Attorney General alleging that three academic medical centers in New York City discriminated on the basis of payer status and race in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Hill-Burton Act, New York State regulations, and New York City Human Rights Law.

Key Points: Although the problem has not yet been resolved, the related community mobilization efforts have raised public awareness about the impact of disparate care, strengthened the coalition’s commitment to achieve health equality, and garnered support among many city and state legislators.

Conclusion: Community groups and professionals with relevant expertise can tackle complex systemic problems, but they must be prepared for a long and difficult fight.