US government revises race, ethnicity data collection standards

The latest issue of the journal Health Equity features a pivotal roundtable discussion titled “Implications and Insights on Federal Revisions to Race and Ethnicity Collection.” This roundtable assembles leading experts to explore newly revised race and ethnicity data collection standards from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), highlighting the significant impact these changes have on policy and practice. The expanded standards now capture historically marginalized communities, who will now be visible in federal data for the first time.

Health equity cannot be advanced without data collection, analysis, reporting, and dissemination beyond the traditional racial and ethnic categories that have been the norm for the past 25 years. More precise and comprehensive data collecting from the use of these revised criteria may help academics, policymakers, and health care professionals more successfully identify and remedy injustices. As a result, resources and interventions can be directed to where they are needed most, especially to communities facing the greatest health challenges.

The moderator of the roundtable is Tina Kauh, Senior Program Officer in the Research-Evaluation-Learning Unit at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The panelists include Meeta Anand, Senior Director of Census and Data Equity at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and The Leadership Conference Education Fund; Maya Berry, Executive Director of the Arab American Institute; and Ninez Ponce, Director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

The participants discussed:

• How the revisions to the race and ethnicity data standards can contribute to a more accurate and nuanced understanding of demographic trends and inequities in society
• States that are already implementing these updated standards successfully
• Opportunities to work with the private sector on implementation
• What role should state or federal government agencies play in working with communities to make sure they understand and embrace the new race and ethnicity criteria.