Empowered by Data: Raising Awareness on Racial Health Disparities in Minnesota

April 17, 2025

By Ma Xiong, MPH – Vice President, Data Strategy & Analytics

April is a month dedicated to raising awareness of racial and ethnic health disparities and taking action to close the gaps. Minnesota continues to be ranked as the best state in the nation for health care 1 . However, it is also one of the states with some of the largest health disparities between the White population and communities of color 2 . 

MN Community Measurement (MNCM) has been a leader in collecting and analyzing data on Race, Ethnicity, Preferred Language, and Country of Origin (RELC) since 2010. By publicly reporting results on quality measures stratified by RELC, it shines a light on health disparities, equipping community partners with the insights needed to take meaningful action.  

Spotlight on Disparities in Diabetes and Vascular Health 

This April, MNCM is focusing on health disparities in two key areas: Optimal Diabetes Care and Optimal Vascular Care based on data from 2023. 

Optimal Diabetes Care is achieved when five health goals are met: 

  • Controlled blood pressure (<140/90 mmHg) 
  • Statin use as recommended to lower bad cholesterol 
  • Blood sugar under control (A1c <8%) 
  • Tobacco-free status 
  • Use of aspirin as recommended  

Optimal Vascular Care includes four of these same goals, excluding blood sugar control. 

MNCM’s data reveals significant disparities in achieving optimal diabetes and vascular care: 

  • Black, Indigenous, Multi-race, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic/Latinx patients had significantly lower rates of having their diabetes optimally controlled compared to the overall statewide average of 46.3%.    

  • While Asian patients overall exceeded the statewide average, MNCM’s analysis showed that Hmong and Karen language speakers had much lower rates, highlighting the importance of looking beyond broad racial categories.   

  • Black, Indigenous, and Multi-race patients had lower rates of having their vascular disease optimally controlled compared to the overall statewide average of 55.4%. 

Breaking these measures down further, MNCM also reports on the individual components. Tables 1 and 2 show the component rates stratified by race and ethnicity, showing significant gaps. For instance, all racial groups had lower-than-average percentages of diabetes patients achieving A1c levels below 8%. These insights pinpoint where health initiatives can focus to have the greatest impact on helping patients and providers work together to effectively manage health. 

Additional measures stratified by race and ethnicity can be found in our recently released report,  Health Care in Minnesota: Summary Report on Quality, Disparities, and Cost  , and in MNCM’s Statewide Performance Hub .   

Why This Matters 

Minnesota’s population is growing and becoming more diverse. According to the U.S. Census, the state’s diversity index rose from 30.3% in 2010 to 40.5% in 2020 3 . As of 2023, Minnesota is home to 5.8 million residents, with people of color making up about 23% of the population. These communities are growing at a faster rate than the White population, and by 2055, it’s projected that over 2.1 million Minnesotans, or 35% of the population will identify as people of color 4 . 

If racial disparities in health care persist, they will only grow alongside our changing population. That’s why this data matters. It helps shape a more equitable health care system by guiding where resources and attention are most needed. By elevating these disparities and working collaboratively, Minnesota can strive toward a future where health equity is achievable.  

Are you a provider, health plan, or community organization using MNCM data to drive health equity efforts? We’d love to share your story. Reach out to us at support@mncm.org to share your work. 

References: 

Posted in Blog

< Older Post Newer Post >

Recent Posts

Community at the Helm: Interoperability as a Priority for Minnesota’s Health Data

By Liz Cinqueonce, MBA • October 30, 2025
By Liz Cinqueonce, MBAPresident & CEO of MNCM At MN Community Measurement (MNCM), we believe that the most meaningful progress in health care comes when the community is at the center—when those closest to the work and most affected by outcomes help shape the path forward. Building on this foundation, we are making interoperability a… The post Community at the Helm: Interoperability as a Priority for Minnesota’s Health Data appeared first on MN Community Measurement.

Empowered by Data: Uncovering Screening Disparities and Reducing Breast Cancer Risk

By Jess Donovan, MPH, BSN • October 21, 2025
This October marks the 40th anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, however, early detection through screening and advances in treatment have decreased mortality by 44% since 1989. Screening can catch cancer early, when it is… The post Empowered by Data: Uncovering Screening Disparities and Reducing Breast Cancer Risk appeared first on MN Community Measurement.

Empowered by Data: Spotlight on Screening for Sexual Health

By Jess Donovan, MPH, BSN • September 30, 2025
September is Sexual Health Awareness Month. As we close out September, we’re highlighting two of the measures we report on – Cervical Cancer Screening and Chlamydia Screening in Women.   Cervical cancer, once one of the most common cancers affecting women in the United States, has significantly decreased since the 1970s. The reason for the decline… The post Empowered by Data: Spotlight on Screening for Sexual Health appeared first on MN Community Measurement.

Elevating Local Voices: Insights from MNCM’s Regional Community Conversations

By Liz Cinqueonce, MBA • September 25, 2025
"It feels like.." The post Elevating Local Voices: Insights from MNCM’s Regional Community Conversations appeared first on MN Community Measurement.

Empowered by Data: Uncovering Immunization Gaps in Children and Adolescents

By Jess Donovan, MPH, BSN • August 20, 2025
By Jess Donovan, MPH, Clinical Measurement Analyst, MN Community Measurement; and Steven Inman, MD, Medical Director, Children’s Health Network August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Vaccines are a safe and effective way to protect both individuals and communities from serious and preventable illnesses like measles, tetanus, diphtheria, and influenza. However, the health of the community… The post Empowered by Data: Uncovering Immunization Gaps in Children and Adolescents appeared first on MN Community Measurement.

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories