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This week

Editor's note

This week, we are focusing on a question that affects millions of Black families: why does the American healthcare system consistently underestimate Black patients' pain? From obstetric complications dismissed as exaggerated to sickle cell crises undertreated in emergency rooms, the data on pain bias in medicine are now overwhelming. Our lead story this week reports the research in depth and speaks to the Black clinicians building the evidence base to change it. If this reporting matters to you, share it and sign up for our newsletter below.

From our editor, Simone Abara, May 24, 2026

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Approximately 1 in 365 Black or African American babies is born with sickle cell disease, and about 1 in 13 …

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Black seniors are Medicare-enrolled at similar rates to white seniors but receive less hospice, more intensive end-of-life procedures, and fewer …

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Chronic Disease

1 in 365

Black American births inherit sickle cell disease, making it the most common genetic disease in the Black community

Updated April 1, 2026

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2.4M

Black Americans fell into the Medicaid coverage gap in states that have not expanded, losing access to subsidized coverage

Updated March 30, 2026

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3.3×

Black women die from pregnancy-related causes at 3.3 times the rate of white women

Updated March 15, 2026

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Medicaid Work Requirements Bill

Black adults have lower rates of employer-sponsored insurance and higher Medicaid enrollment rates relative to white adults. In …

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H.R. 2234

Momnibus Act 2025

Black women die in childbirth at 3.3 times the rate of white women in the United States (CDC …

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Alzheimer's Disease

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2x

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that destroys memory, language, judgment, and the …

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1 in 10

Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, …

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APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease

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~13% of African Americans carry two high-risk APOL1 variants

APOL1-mediated kidney disease is a genetic kidney condition driven by two specific variants in …

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7.7x

In 2021 the asthma death rate among non-Hispanic Black children was 7.7 per million, …

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Atopic Dermatitis on Black Skin

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19.3%

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease driven by skin-barrier dysfunction …

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A 63-year-old Black woman walks into a clinic with palpitations and gets told she's …

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