Oregon has the worst racial health disparities in the West
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Oregon has "more severe" racial and ethnic health disparities in its health system compared to other states in the West, according to a recent Commonwealth Fund report.
The big picture: No state has eliminated health disparities between racial and ethnic groups — and researchers warn recent federal policy shifts are likely to widen them.
- Nationally, rates of people skipping needed care because of cost are rising after hitting record lows in 2021 and 2022, per the report.
Zoom in: In Oregon, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) and white residents had the best overall health care outcomes, access and quality — ranking in the 86th and 84th percentiles, respectively. These outcomes are often linked to higher income levels.
- Meanwhile, American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) and Hispanic communities experienced the worst overall health outcomes, scoring in the 8th and 45th percentiles, respectively.
By the numbers: In Oregon, AIAN adults are significantly more likely to be uninsured than other groups, with 18% lacking coverage, and are more likely to die from avoidable causes.
- Black Oregonians have the highest death rates from breast and colorectal cancer, and the infant mortality rate among Black residents is 8.5 per 1,000 live births — more than double the rate for white residents (3.9).
Between the lines: Hispanic residents had lower mortality rates from preventable causes than white Oregonians despite less access to care and higher rates of obesity.
- Researchers call this the "Hispanic paradox." However, that trend could be fading, per the American Heart Association.
How it works: The Commonwealth Fund analyzed 24 performance indicators across three domains — health outcomes, health care access and quality and use of services — using federal data from 2022 to 2024.
- Researchers calculated standardized scores for five racial and ethnic groups and ranked each group's experience on a 1-to-100 percentile scale relative to all groups nationally.
- The data predates 2025–2026 federal policy shifts in Medicaid and ACA coverage.
The bottom line: The report finds that Medicaid eligibility, lower medical debt and strong family support improve health outcomes.
- Researchers urge Congress to expand insurance access, strengthen primary care and protect access to preventive services.
Go deeper: Compare other states in the full report.