“The Institute of Medicine report Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care said that racial and ethnic minorities tend to receive lower-quality health care than whites do, even when insurance status, income, age, and severity of conditions are comparable. It recommends first and foremost to increase awareness about racial and ethnic disparities in health care among the general public, health care providers, insurance companies, and policymakers. Consistency and equity of care also should be promoted through the use of “evidence-based” guidelines to help providers and health plans make decisions about which procedures to order or pay for based on the best available science.”