Study: Fragmentation of US Healthcare and Policy Negatively Impacts Diabetes Outcomes

Despite wide-ranging efforts in the US to reduce the incidence and morbidity associated with type 2 diabetes, progress has stalled, if not reversed. A newly published study in Health Affairs examines the effect that the fragmented nature of the US healthcare system has on diabetes outcomes. The authors found such fragmentation, especially with the current payer system, contributes heavily to negative health outcomes for people with diabetes.

According to the paper, “There is fragmentation in and across health policies related to diabetes in the US. Fragmentation occurs across vertical levels of government (federal, state, county, and local) and, consequently, affects the associated policies that influence risk for and management of diabetes. For example, Medicare is a federal program, while state governments have significant influence over Medicaid program design and implementation. Even federal policy implemented across states can produce heterogeneous results.”

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(Source: Health Affairs, June 27^th, 2022)