Why The Hit to Disparate Impact Analysis Is a Blow to Public Health

The recent executive order eliminating federal agencies’ ability to use disparate impact analysis represents a major setback for public health equity. For decades, disparate impact has served as a critical legal tool to address structural inequities in health care, education, housing, and beyond—such as requiring hospitals to provide interpreters for patients with limited English proficiency and reducing racial disparities in school discipline.

Without this mechanism, efforts to address algorithmic bias and other systemic barriers to equitable care and outcomes face steep challenges. Public health advocates now face the task of finding new strategies to ensure science continues informing policy. Read more from Health Affairs here.