Wednesday, June 18, 2025 – Disparity widens for Native American life expectancy

A new study finds the death rate for Native Americans — which was already higher than other groups — is much higher than previously thought. The analysis just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) finds the gap in life expectancy between Native Americans and Alaska Natives and the national average is almost three times wider than what official statistics say it is. The researchers point to the fact that more than 40% of death certificates misidentify Native Americans and Alaska Natives. One of the study’s researchers says the discrepancies indicate “statistical erasure” in routine public health data has obscured the severity of a mortality crisis among Native people. We’ll get a handle on the new study and what is behind the numbers. GUESTS Michael Bird (Kewa Pueblo and Ohkay Owingeh), past president of the American Public Health Association and past national consultant for AARP Stephanie Woolhandler, distinguished professor at the City University of New York – Hunter College Dr. Alec Calac (Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians), American Indian Health Policy Scholar and medical student at University of California-San Diego   Break 1 Music: Stomp Dance (song) George Hunter (artist) Haven (album) Break 2 Music: Maybe (song) Mogley & the Zoniez (artist) Better Late Than Never (album)