Recent Analysis Shows Racial Disparities in Depression Treatment

July 11, 2022

By Julie Sonier, MNCM President

I recently came across an interesting report on racial disparities in depression treatment by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Published in May 2022, I found this report noteworthy for several reasons. 

First, it directly addresses two topics that have been much in the news and the focus of attention from health care stakeholders of all types in the last couple of years: mental health, and racial disparities in health and health care. Both topics have taken on increased urgency considering the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased attention to racial disparities and racial justice since the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020. 

Second, several of the findings are quite striking. The analysis suggests that major depression is likely significantly underdiagnosed in Black and Hispanic communities, especially in communities where there were fewer behavioral health care providers. Among those who do receive a diagnosis, the analysis showed disparities in treatment of depression, for both prescription drug treatment and counseling. 

Third, there are substantial data limitations and hurdles that must be overcome to better understand and act on disparities. For this analysis, race/ethnicity was estimated based on the majority race/ethnicity among households by zip code. Given the data limitations and the urgent need for improved understanding of disparities, this approach represents a creative solution – but it is far from perfect and highlights the urgent need for better information if we are to make progress in improving health equity. 

Though not directly comparable to the data analyzed in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association study, the data on depression outcomes collected by MNCM also show disparities by race and ethnicity, as well as language and country of origin (RELC). In May, we published our annual report on disparities in quality metrics by RELC using data collected in 2021 (largely reflecting 2020 dates of service). Among adults diagnosed with depression, rates of remission at six months for Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Indigenous Minnesotans were well below the statewide average (at 59 percent, 72 percent, and 73 percent of the statewide average, respectively). 

MNCM is frequently sought out as a national leader in the collection of high-quality, comprehensive data on RELC that we use to understand disparities in care and health outcomes. We are proud of the collective work of our entire community to get to this point but know that there is so much more that needs to be done – related to improving the availability and reliability of data, but also in how data are leveraged to drive knowledge and action.  

Given MNCM’s focus on data to drive improvement, we are interested in hearing your stories about using the data for improvement in health and health equity. We also seek to partner with researchers, health care stakeholders, government agencies, and others on leveraging data in ways that generate insights and action.  Please email us at support@mncm.org to find out more about potential ways to partner with MNCM on leveraging data or to share your stories of data-driven strategies for improvement in health care quality and health equity. 


Posted in Blog

Recent Posts

October 20, 2026
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — October 20, 2026 — MN Community Measurement (MNCM) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Koble-MN's health information exchange (HIE) business line and the MNSHINE brand from The Koble Group. On November 1, MNCM will officially change its legal name to Minnesota Statewide Health Information Network and Exchange, known as MNSHINE. The transition follows a special joint meeting of MNCM's Board of Directors and members on October 12, at which the Board unanimously approved resolutions authorizing the acquisition, changing the organization's legal name, and establishing a new HIE Advisory Committee. Members unanimously adopted the name change and related amendments to the organization's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. An intentional decision to collaborate The transition is the result of an intentional decision by Minnesota health care leaders to collaborate on a health data landscape that makes sense: one that reduces redundancy, increases efficiency, and delivers needed information to those with legal authorization to receive it, where and when it is needed, without unnecessary administrative barriers. "This is not simply a merger of services. It is a deliberate choice to build the kind of health data infrastructure Minnesota deserves," said Liz Cinqueonce, President and CEO of MNCM. "For too long, organizations across our state have had to navigate duplicative systems and disconnected data. By bringing measurement and exchange together, we can reduce that burden and make sure the right information reaches the right people at the right time, with patient privacy protections firmly in place, so they can focus on improving care." The effort builds on months of work by the Executive Leadership Council, convened earlier this year by MNCM, the Minnesota Electronic Health Records Consortium, and Koble to explore how a sustainable, statewide health data utility could serve the public interest. "Minnesota is at its best when we take on difficult challenges together and align on solutions," said Mark Steffen, MD, Chair of the MNCM Board of Directors. "The Board's unanimous support reflects a shared conviction that our future depends on organizations keeping their unique strengths and missions while participating in shared infrastructure and governance. That balance is what enables greater coordination, transparency, efficiency, and impact." A trusted backbone for Minnesota's health data Minnesota's future health data ecosystem is one in which organizations retain their unique strengths and missions while participating in shared infrastructure and governance. The vision for MNSHINE is to become the health data utility, governed in the public interest with strong privacy protections and transparency, that serves as the trusted backbone connecting these efforts, ensuring data can be used more effectively to improve health, wellbeing, and outcomes for all Minnesotans. By bringing the measurement of health care quality, cost, and utilization together with the infrastructure that moves clinical data between organizations, MNSHINE will be positioned to support providers, payers, public health, researchers, policymakers, and communities alike, each within the limits of applicable law and participant agreements. The goal is healthier people, stronger communities, greater equity, better public decisions, smarter investments, and a health system that learns continuously. Continuity for HIE participants HIE services will continue without interruption. To ensure continuity of leadership and relationships, Chad Peterson, CEO of The Koble Group, has joined MNCM as Senior Vice President of HIE Services. “For HIE participants, this transition opens new possibilities,” said Peterson. “When exchange and measurement are guided by one mission, we can reduce duplication for providers and better support care coordination, while holding firm to the privacy protections patients expect. I’m proud to help lead that work, and I’m committed to making sure every participant feels supported as we grow.” MNCM has also established the HIE Advisory Committee as a standing committee of its Board of Directors. The committee continues the work of the Koble-MN Advisory Committee and will advise the Board on interoperability, participant relationships, privacy, security, data governance, and health equity. Jennifer Lamprecht of Sanford Health and Dr. Justine Mrosak of Hennepin Healthcare have been appointed to co-chair the committee, which will include consumer representatives alongside members representing a cross-section of Minnesota's health care community. Protecting patient privacy This transition changes who operates Minnesota's health information exchange. It does not change how patient information is protected or who may access it. MNSHINE will continue to operate in compliance with HIPAA and the Minnesota Health Records Act, which is among the strongest patient-consent laws in the nation, and in compliance with the participant agreements that govern how information is exchanged. Health information exchange and measurement will each remain governed by their own legal and contractual requirements, and bringing them into one organization does not change the purposes for which patient information may be used.
By Elizabeth Cinqueonce • October 19, 2026
Aligning for Impact: From Momentum to Action A 2026 Leadership Series from the MNCM Board Chair & President
By Elizabeth Cinqueonce • July 22, 2026
Aligning for Impact: From Vision to Momentum A 2026 Leadership Series from the MNCM Board Chair & President
May 27, 2026
MNCM’s President & CEO Liz Cinqueonce Joins Great Lakes Executive Leadership Council Advances Regional Collaboration and Quality Improvement
By Elizabeth Cinqueonce • May 13, 2026
MN Community Measurement Recognizes Innovation and Collaboration in Clinical Quality Measurement

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories