Highlights from AHRQ's two inaugural reports, the 2003 National Healthcare Quality Report and the 2003 National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR), are provided in this special issue. A review of initial findings from these reports is included. The issue also provides articles that examine methodological challenges in developing the reports and gaps in data that were encountered in producing the first NHDR.  Additional articles focus on disparities in care among children, reproductive-age women, and men and explore how the two reports can be used to improve quality and eliminate disparities.