I'm Jonathan K. Parton. Welcome to K-Part. On June 29th Washington Post Live hosted a series of conversations on health equity, particularly the toll of racial inequality on access to health care.

I kick things off with Dr. Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health for the Department of Health and Human Services.

We discussed all the interlocking issues that lead to disparate health outcomes in black and brown communities, from transportation to climate to stigma.

Also, Admiral Levine is the highest ranking out transgender government official in U.S. history. So I got her thoughts on the rash of anti-LGBTQ plus bills and laws propping up around the country.

And she explains why even though this is the end of Pride Month.

This should be a summer of Pride. We should have Pride all summer.

Let's begin with the recent study of death certificates from the last two decades, which found that the higher mortality rate among African Americans resulted in more than 1.6 million premature deaths compared to the white population.

How do you explain this?

Well, this is a very important study published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, which highlights the significant health disparities that exist in our nation, which impact life expectancy, particularly with African Americans versus other groups.

Further confirms the information that we know at the Department of Health and Human Services about how significant these health disparities are, and it shows how far we have to go to achieve health equity.

Well, I mean, I'm glad you bring that up because 40 years ago, Margaret Heckler, who was President Reagan's health secretary, wrote a report that outlined the disparate health outcomes on black and minority health.

And as you bring up, the problem has only gotten worse. Is it due to health disparities or the quality of care or a combination of the two or even more factors?

I think that there are, it is those two factors and there are even more factors. One of the most significant issues is lack of access to care for many in the African American community.

And that can be in urban areas and in rural areas. It has to do with lack of potential lack of health insurance.

But also, I think the social determinants of health, those social factors that influence health, that we don't usually consider health related, economic opportunity, educational opportunity, nutrition, the environment, transportation, housing, and more.

All of those factors together, I think, influence these statistics.

How about stigma?

Absolutely. I mean, so structural and systemic racism and stigma have a big influence on this.

And these are all issues that we are working to address at the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary of the Serious Leadership.

And of course, throughout the Biden-Harris Administration.

This was an audience question. I was going to bring up later, but it's perfect to bring up now.

It's an audience question from Lynn Feliattro. I hope I know I butchered Lynn's last name.

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