Increased Black–White Disparities in Mortality After the Introduction of Lifesaving Innovations: A Possible Consequence of US Federal Laws

Objectives. We explored whether the introduction of 3 lifesaving innovations introduced between 1989 and 1996 increased, decreased, or had no effect on disparities in Black–White mortality in the United States through 2006.Methods. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data were used to assess disease-, age-, gender-, and race-specific changes in mortality after the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) for treatment of HIV, surfactants for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, and Medicare reimbursement of mammography screening for breast cancer.Results. Disparities in Black–White mortality from HIV significantly increased after the introduction of HAART, surfactant therapy, and reimbursement for screening mammography. Between 1989 and 2006, these circumstances may have accounted for an estimated 22 441 potentially avoidable deaths among Blacks.Conclusions. These descriptive data contribute to the formulation of the hypothesis that federal laws promote increased disparities...