Some ethnic groups are more susceptible to certain health conditions than others. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced they will be awarding more than $14 million to help research patient-centered outcomes, particularly in racial and ethnic minorities.

Diabetes is one condition that strikes minorities more than other segments of the population. The American Diabetes Association says while heart disease can affect anyone, the condition is more prevalent in African-American and Hispanic populations. People with those serious health conditions may receive higher health insurance quotes.

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities director John Ruffin says the research is needed to understand how to best serve all portions of the population.

"Patient-centered outcomes research must become a critical part of our strategy as a nation to understand and eliminate health disparities," says Ruffin. "This joint initiative complements the work that we are currently doing and is a testament to the value of partnerships."

The funding will also aimed to help provide better information to patients so they can make more informed healthcare decisions.

Help is on the way for families who struggle to pay their health insurance premiums. Millions of middle-income Americans will qualify for tax credits in 2014, according to data released by consumer health organization Families USA.

Those who work for small employers stand to benefit the most from tax cuts, according to the data. More than 50 percent of those who will be eligible for the tax credit work for a company with less than 100 employees.

Furthermore, the data reveals that 66 percent of those who will be eligible for the tax credit will have an annual income of $44,100 for a family of four.

Families USA executive director Ron Pollack says the tax cuts will help families in need.

"This is one of the largest middle-income tax cuts in history, and it will enable many hard-working Americans to afford private health insurance premiums that continue to stretch family budgets," said Pollack.

Under healthcare reform, employers with less than 100 employees will be able to purchase coverage through an exchange. Policies purchased through an exchange may offer lower health insurance quotes since they have lower administrative fees. 

A fair number of Americans are paying attention to the government's plan to reform the country's healthcare system. However, research reveals that misconceptions about new laws and provisions exist.

A survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners found that only 14 percent of respondents were aware that the first round of healthcare reform provisions take effect at the end of this month.

However, more than 70 percent were aware that insurers cannot deny cover to children with pre-existing conditions and must extend coverage to adult children up to age 26 on their parents' plan.

NAIC president and West Virginia insurance commissioner Jane Cline says it's important for consumers to understand what policies will soon take affect.

"The results show that while most consumers are well-attuned to provisions specifically affecting their children's healthcare, they do not grasp the overall reform framework," says Cline. "It's promising to see this, but we feel it necessary for consumers to fully understand the changes and get informed about what to expect."

The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama in March 2010. Implementation of various provisions will take place in the upcoming years.

Healthcare reform has created confusion for some people. It may not be the new laws, however, that are completely behind this lack of understanding. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says health insurance companies are contributing to the dissemination of false facts.

Sebelius recently wrote a letter to America's Health Insurance Plans asking for their members to stop spreading false information. The secretary asserts that several insurers have said wrongfully blamed higher health insurance quotes and premium increases on the Affordable Care Act.

In her letter to AHIP, Sebelius wrote, "by making sure insurance covers people who are most at risk, there will be less uncompensated care, and, as a result, the amount of cost shifting to those who have coverage today will be reduced by up to $1 billion in 2013."

Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurers will be required to provide preventative services without additional costs and will be barred from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions. These are just a couple of provisions that insurers have historically not covered on their own.

Hospitals in urban areas frequently garner a lot of attention as they are typically viewed as the main facilities that treat low-income patients. However, hospitals in rural areas need help too.

The. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that $20 million in funds will be distributed to hospitals in 41 states. The funds are aimed to help rural hospitals transition to electronic health records.

"The benefits of health information technology can be especially important for patients and clinicians in small and rural health care facilities, yet these facilities face high hurdles as they look toward joining in the transition to electronic information," said Sebelius.

The government has been spearheading efforts for the healthcare industry to switch over to electronic health records. It's believed that patients will receive better care under this system through improved accuracy and clarity of records. However, doctors and other healthcare professionals have been slow to embrace the technology.

Hospitals don't have a lot of time to switch over to electronic health records. Fees will be imposed on hospitals that aren't in compliance by 2015.