Racial and ethnic disparities in preventive procedures have been widely documented. These findings are based primarily on either patient self-report or the use of claims data. Each has limitations. Self-report is associated with significant overestimation of rates of preventive procedures in most, but not all studies. In contrast, claims data may underestimate procedures. The size of disparities in mammography differs depending on survey question wording, but more importantly, on whether self-report or claims data are used. Such discrepancies could represent either greater over reporting by minorities of preventive procedures relative to majorities or less efficient Medicare billing procedures by providers servicing minority patients.

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