Vote-by-mail Ballot Rejection and Experience with Mail-in Voting

2021 ◽  
pp. 1532673X2110226
Author(s):  
David Cottrell ◽  
Michael C. Herron ◽  
Daniel A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
The United States ◽  
General Elections ◽  
Party Registration ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Vote By Mail ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Although most ballots in the United States have historically been cast in-person, Americans are increasingly voting by mail, a trend that accelerated in the 2020 General Election. Mail ballots can be rejected after being cast, and our analysis of the Florida general elections of 2016, 2018, and 2020 shows that voters inexperienced with mail voting disproportionately submit ballots that end up rejected due to (1) late arrival at elections offices or (2) signature defects on return envelopes. Inexperienced mail voters are up to three times more likely to have their ballots rejected compared to experienced mail voters, and this inexperience penalty varies by a voter’s party registration, race/ethnicity, and age. Our findings hold when controlling for additional voter characteristics and geographical fixed effects. The effect of inexperience on the likelihood of vote-by-mail ballot rejection risks exacerbating existing inequities in political representation already faced by younger and racial/ethnic minority voters.

Health Care Use and Outcomes in Assisted Living Communities: Race, Ethnicity, and Dual Eligibility

2021 ◽  
pp. 107755872110501
Author(s):  
Helena Temkin-Greener ◽  
Yunjiao Mao ◽  
Brian McGarry ◽  
Sheryl Zimmerman ◽  
Yue Li
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Care Use ◽  
Fee For Service ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Dual Eligibility ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Assisted Living (AL) has become an important residential long-term care option in the United States, yet very little is known about the nature and quality of care received in this setting by racial/ethnic minorities or residents dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Using calendar year 2018 Medicare data, we identified 255,564 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries age 55+ who resided in 24,108 ALs across the United States. We fit several logistic regression models with individual-level covariates and AL-level fixed effects, to examine the association between race/ethnicity and dual status with inpatient hospital admission, 30-day readmission, emergency room use, and nursing home placement. Significant variations in these measures were found both within and across ALs for racial/ethnic minority and dual residents. Our results suggest that disparities in outcomes are most significant by dual eligibility status rather than by race/ethnicity alone. These findings provide important implications for providers, policy makers, and researchers.

scholarly journals Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Years of Potential Life Lost Attributable to COVID-19 in the United States: An Analysis of 45 States and the District of Columbia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 2921
Author(s):  
Jay J. Xu ◽  
Jarvis T. Chen ◽  
Thomas R. Belin ◽  
Ronald S. Brookmeyer ◽  
Marc A. Suchard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
District Of Columbia ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Attributable Mortality ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Rate Ratios ◽  
Degree Of Association ◽  
Racial Ethnic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in the United States has disproportionately impacted communities of color across the country. Focusing on COVID-19-attributable mortality, we expand upon a national comparative analysis of years of potential life lost (YPLL) attributable to COVID-19 by race/ethnicity (Bassett et al., 2020), estimating percentages of total YPLL for non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, non-Hispanic Asians, and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Natives, contrasting them with their respective percent population shares, as well as age-adjusted YPLL rate ratios—anchoring comparisons to non-Hispanic Whites—in each of 45 states and the District of Columbia using data from the National Center for Health Statistics as of 30 December 2020. Using a novel Monte Carlo simulation procedure to perform estimation, our results reveal substantial racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19-attributable YPLL across states, with a prevailing pattern of non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics experiencing disproportionately high and non-Hispanic Whites experiencing disproportionately low COVID-19-attributable YPLL. Furthermore, estimated disparities are generally more pronounced when measuring mortality in terms of YPLL compared to death counts, reflecting the greater intensity of the disparities at younger ages. We also find substantial state-to-state variability in the magnitudes of the estimated racial/ethnic disparities, suggesting that they are driven in large part by social determinants of health whose degree of association with race/ethnicity varies by state.

Infant Mortality among Adolescent Mothers in the United States: A 5-Year Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Disparities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Moore ◽  
Anne E. Brisendine ◽  
Martha S. Wingate
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Racial And Ethnic Disparities ◽  
Postneonatal Mortality ◽  
Maternal Characteristics ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Objective This study was aimed to examine differences in infant mortality outcomes across maternal age subgroups less than 20 years in the United States with a specific focus on racial and ethnic disparities. Study Design Using National Center for Health Statistics cohort-linked live birth–infant death files (2009-2013) in this cross-sectional study, we calculated descriptive statistics by age (<15, 15–17, and 18–19 years) and racial/ethnic subgroups (non-Hispanic white [NHW], non-Hispanic black [NHB], and Hispanic) for infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated by race/ethnicity and age. Preterm birth and other maternal characteristics were included as covariates. Results Disparities were greatest for mothers <15 and NHB mothers. The risk of infant mortality among mothers <15 years compared to 18 to 19 years was higher regardless of race/ethnicity (NHW: aOR = 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.85; NHB: aOR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04–1.56; Hispanic: aOR = 1.36, 95%CI: 1.07–1.74). Compared to NHW mothers, NHB mothers had a consistently higher risk of infant mortality (15–17 years: aOR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.03–1.21; 18–19 years: aOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.15–1.27), while Hispanic mothers had a consistently lower risk (15–17 years: aOR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.66–0.78; 18–19 years: aOR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.70–0.78). Adjusting for preterm birth had a greater influence than maternal characteristics on observed group differences in mortality. For neonatal and postneonatal mortality, patterns of disparities based on age and race/ethnicity differed from those of overall infant mortality. Conclusion Although infants born to younger mothers were at increased risk of mortality, variations by race/ethnicity and timing of death existed. When adjusted for preterm birth, differences in risk across age subgroups declined and, for some racial/ethnic groups, disappeared. Key Points

scholarly journals Trends in age and red blood cell donation habits among several racial/ethnic minority groups in the United States

Transfusion ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1644-1655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark H. Yazer ◽  
Ralph Vassallo ◽  
Meghan Delaney ◽  
Marc Germain ◽  
Matthew S. Karafin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ethnic Minority Groups ◽  
Racial Ethnic

scholarly journals Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Lost Earnings From Cancer Deaths in the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingxuan Zhao ◽  
Kimberly D Miller ◽  
Farhad Islami ◽  
Zhiyuan Zheng ◽  
Xuesong Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Economic Burden ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pacific Islanders ◽  
Equal Access ◽  
Years Of Life Lost ◽  
Cancer Death ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Abstract Background Little is known about disparities in economic burden due to premature cancer deaths by race or ethnicity in the United States. This study aimed to compare person-years of life lost (PYLLs) and lost earnings due to premature cancer deaths by race/ethnicity. Methods PYLLs were calculated using recent national cancer death and life expectancy data. PYLLs were combined with annual median earnings to generate lost earnings. We compared PYLLs and lost earnings among individuals who died at age 16-84 years due to cancer by racial/ethnic groups (non-Hispanic [NH] White, NH Black, NH Asian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic). Results In 2015, PYLLs due to all premature cancer deaths were 6 512 810 for NH Whites, 1 196 709 for NH Blacks, 279 721 for NH Asian or Pacific Islanders, and 665 968 for Hispanics, translating to age-standardized lost earning rates (per 100 000 person-years) of $34.9 million, $43.5 million, $22.2 million, and $24.5 million, respectively. NH Blacks had higher age-standardized PYLL and lost earning rates than NH Whites for 13 of 19 selected cancer sites. If age-specific PYLL and lost earning rates for NH Blacks were the same as those of NH Whites, 241 334 PYLLs and $3.2 billion lost earnings (22.6% of the total lost earnings among NH Blacks) would have been avoided. Disparities were also observed for average PYLLs and lost earnings per cancer death for all cancers combined and 18 of 19 cancer sites. Conclusions Improving equal access to effective cancer prevention, screening, and treatment will be important in reducing the disproportional economic burden associated with racial/ethnic disparities.

scholarly journals “We Are Here to Assist All Individuals Who Need Hospice Services”: Hospices’ Perspectives on Improving Access and Inclusion for Racial/Ethnic Minorities

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 233372142092041 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Courtney Hughes ◽  
Erin Vernon
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Native American ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Community Outreach ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Major Theme ◽  
Language Services ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Background: Racial/ethnic minority populations in the United States are less likely to utilize hospice services nearing their end of life, potentially diminishing their quality of care while also increasing medical costs. Objective: Explore the minority hospice utilization gap from the hospice perspective by examining perceived barriers and facilitators as well as practices and policies. Method: Qualitative surveys were conducted with 41 hospices across the United States. Qualitative data analysis included performing a limited content analysis, including the identification of themes and representative quotations. Results: Commonly reported barriers to hospice care for racial/ethnic minorities included culture/beliefs, mistrust of the medical system, and language barriers. A major theme pertaining to successful minority hospice enrollment was an inclusive culture that provided language services, staff cultural training, and a diverse staff. Another major theme was the importance of community outreach activities that extended beyond the medical community and forming relationships with churches, racial/ethnic minority community leaders, and Native American reservations. Conclusion: The importance of incorporating a culture of inclusivity by forming committees, providing language services, and offering culturally competent care emerged in this qualitative study. Building strong external relationships with community groups such as churches is a strategy used to increase racial/ethnic minority utilization of hospice.

scholarly journals Differential Association of HIV Funding With HIV Mortality by Race/Ethnicity, United States, 1999-2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 149S-157S
Author(s):  
Benedict I. Truman ◽  
Ramal Moonesinghe ◽  
Yolanda T. Brown ◽  
Man-Huei Chang ◽  
Jonathan H. Mermin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Death Rates ◽  
Black Residents ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Hiv Funding ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
Hispanic White

Objective Federal funds have been spent to reduce the disproportionate effects of HIV/AIDS on racial/ethnic minority groups in the United States. We investigated the association between federal domestic HIV funding and age-adjusted HIV death rates by race/ethnicity in the United States during 1999-2017. Methods We analyzed HIV funding data from the Kaiser Family Foundation by federal fiscal year (FFY) and US age-adjusted death rates (AADRs) by race/ethnicity (Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaska Native [API+AI/AN]) from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER detailed mortality files. We fit joinpoint regression models to estimate the annual percentage change (APC), average APC, and changes in AADRs per billion US dollars in HIV funding, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). For 19 data points, the number of joinpoints ranged from 0 to 4 on the basis of rules set by the program or by the user. A Monte Carlo permutation test indicated significant ( P < .05) changes at joinpoints, and 2-sided t tests indicated significant APCs in AADRs. Results Domestic HIV funding increased from $10.7 billion in FFY 1999 to $26.3 billion in FFY 2017, but AADRs decreased at different rates for each racial/ethnic group. The average rate of change in AADR per US billion dollars was −9.4% (95% CI, −10.9% to −7.8%) for Hispanic residents, −7.8% (95% CI, −9.0% to −6.6%) for non-Hispanic black residents, −6.7% (95% CI, −9.3% to −4.0%) for non-Hispanic white residents, and −5.2% (95% CI, −7.8% to −2.5%) for non-Hispanic API+AI/AN residents. Conclusions Increased domestic HIV funding was associated with faster decreases in age-adjusted HIV death rates for Hispanic and non-Hispanic black residents than for residents in other racial/ethnic groups. Increasing US HIV funding could be associated with decreasing future racial/ethnic disparities in the rate of HIV-related deaths.

scholarly journals Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Years of Potential Life Lost Attributable to COVID-19 in the United States: An Analysis of 45 States and the District of Columbia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay J. Xu ◽  
Jarvis T. Chen ◽  
Thomas R. Belin ◽  
Ronald S. Brookmeyer ◽  
Marc A. Suchard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
District Of Columbia ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Attributable Mortality ◽  
Estimation Uncertainty ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Rate Ratios ◽  
Racial Ethnic

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in the United States has disproportionately impacted communities of color across the country. Focusing on COVID-19-attributable mortality, we expand upon a national comparative analysis of years of potential life lost (YPLL) attributable to COVID-19 by race/ethnicity (Bassett et al., 2020), estimating percentages of total YPLL for non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, non-Hispanic Asians, and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Natives, contrasting them with their respective percent population shares, as well as age-adjusted YPLL rate ratios – anchoring comparisons to non-Hispanic Whites – in each of 45 states and the District of Columbia using data from the National Center for Health Statistics as of December 30, 2020. Using a novel Monte Carlo simulation procedure to quantify estimation uncertainty, our results reveal substantial racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19-attributable YPLL across states, with a prevailing pattern of non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics experiencing disproportionately high and non-Hispanic Whites experiencing disproportionately low COVID-19-attributable YPLL. Furthermore, observed disparities are generally more pronounced when measuring mortality in terms of YPLL compared to death counts, reflecting the greater intensity of the disparities at younger ages. We also find substantial state-to-state variability in the magnitudes of the estimated racial/ethnic disparities, suggesting that they are driven in large part by social determinants of health whose degree of association with race/ethnicity varies by state.

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