title: Nurses: Leading to Reduce Health Disparities in an Era of Healthcare Reform.
abstract: Persistent disparities in health status and outcomes for racial/ethnic minority populations are well documented. African-Americans are disproportionately impacted by a number of conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and inadequate mental healthcare. The 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) contains provisions to reduce health disparities. These provisions aim to improve the quality of care, reduce costs, increase access to care, strengthen the health-care workforce, and make health coverage more obtainable. Thus, the objectives of this paper are to describe key elements outlined in the ACA aimed at reducing health disparities and identify implications for nurses to lead in the reduction of health-care disparities through practice, education, research, and advocacy. Nurses at all levels of practice and education are encouraged to intensify their advocacy and legislative efforts to help ensure that key ACA provisions are funded and implemented to improve the overall well-being of underserved communities.
authors.forename: Mekeshia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aurelien
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004506:Education, Nursing; D018166:Health Care Reform; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009740:Nursing Staff; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States