This report brings together two issues: quality of care measurement and health care for the disadvantaged. The main question that is asked is whether an improvement in the quality of health care delivered to the disadvantaged will contribute to equalizing their health status. A review of the literature points to the following four conclusions: (1) differentials in health status persist between the disadvantaged and those not disadvantaged, often to a large degree; (2) differentials in the overall amount of care received are less striking at the present time than before, but standardization by level of need demonstrates measurable discrepancies in health services provided to the disadvantaged compared with the nondisadvantaged; (3) the technical quality of health care for the disadvantaged is not strikingly poorer than care for the nondisadvantaged but, in view of demonstrable shortcomings in the quality of health care in general, this is not viewed as a positive statement; and (4) attempts to improve quality of care for the disadvantaged have not had the hoped for impact. In addition to continued evaluation of current innovative approaches for improving the quality of health care for the disadvantaged, four new avenues for further research are suggested; increased patient responsibility, increased consumer knowledge, financial accountability, and quality assurance activities. (Author)