High Deductibles Discourage Follow-Up Testing After Abnormal Mammogram Results
A recent study found that 20% of women who receive abnormal results from a mammogram will not seek additional screening if their deductible is too high. 932 patients who received mammograms at Boston Medical Center were surveyed. The results showed that ~60% of respondents who had to pay a deductible would still go in for testing, while another 20% were undecided. Social determinants of health (SDoH) like low income, Hispanic ethnicity, and uninsured status were associated with decreased follow-up testing
Childhood Cancer Survivors on Public Insurance Face Barriers to Care
A recent study found that childhood cancer survivors face significant barriers of access to care when insured on public plans. The study followed patients who received care for cancer at a pediatric cancer center between the ages of 15-19. The risk of follow-up effects after transitioning to adult care are dependent on a variety of factors, so researchers employed a Transition Readiness Inventory (TRI).
Making Clinical Trials Populations Better Represent Patients
Clinical trial participants are often not representative of the patient populations. People from marginalized backgrounds are often overlooked, leaving lingering safety and efficacy questions remaining for those already facing barriers to access. In a new PM Live, article, Paul Chew of Phesi discusses diversity in clinical trials and why it is critical in improving health equity efforts.
Addressing Structural Stigma to Improve Health Equity
Structural stigma refers to forms of stigma reinforced by systems that exert some degree of control or influence over one’s lives, often through legal institutions. In a new Health Affairs brief, authors discuss the ramifications of structural stigma on health disparities through the lens of people living with substance use disorder (SUD). The laws surrounding substance use and the ramifications of their enforcement play an important role in negative health outcomes for people with SUD.
Connecticut Shelter Targets Health Disparities by Addressing Housing Insecurity
Housing insecurity is just one of many social determinants of health (SDoH) that negatively impact health outcomes. A shelter in Milford, CT, US, is attempting to improve health outcomes for people facing housing insecurity by promoting co-living arrangements with older adults. Participants pay a reduced rent, while the older adults have an individual nearby in case of emergency.
Insurance Coverage Reduces Cigarette Use in People Living with Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
An article recently published in Addiction found that insurance coverage is associated with reduced cigarette use in people living with mental illness or substance use disorder. People within this demographic are at increased risk of cigarette use, especially when they are under- or uninsured. The study examined data from nearly 450,000 respondents of the US National Survey of Drug Use and Health Surveys from 2009-2019.
Community Care Hubs as an Avenue to Improve Health Outcomes
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has prioritized the need to address social determinants of health to improve health outcomes for marginalized people. In this month’s issue of Health Affairs¸ authors discuss the use of community care hubs to help improve community health outcomes.
Mathematical Modeling of HIV/AIDs – Accounting for Social Determinants of Health
While research has established that social determinants of health (SDoH) play a major role in outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS, most mathematical models fail to account for them in a meaningful capacity. In a newly published article in Nature, authors describe the development and application of a mathematical model that incorporates SDoH into its analysis.
Interview with Nasim Asfar, Chief Health Officer of Oracle Health
Chief Healthcare Executive has published a new interview with Nasim Asfar, Oracle Health’s Chief Health Officer. Asfar is spearheading efforts to target health disparities to support health equity efforts and how Oracle Health is using tech to do so. She starts by touching on the outsized importance of social determinants of health (SDoH).
Advancing Disability Research via Harmonized Data
Recent efforts to advance disability research, healthcare, and policymaking have been held back by a lack of large, high-quality sources of real-world data (RWD) regarding disabled people. In a newly published article in Health Affairs, authors discuss how harmonizing disability-related RWD sources could help address this pressing issue.
Supporting the Social Determinants of Health Infrastructure with Federal Funding
The growing public focus on social determinants of health (SDoH) spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic has outstripped the infrastructure in place to address issues of health equity. According to several stakeholders, increased federal funding is key to advancing these goals and developing a tech infrastructure that can support SDoH-related efforts
New Asthma Health Equity Index Helps Identify Needs for Children with Asthma
Researchers presenting at the 2022 AAP National Conference & Exhibition earlier this month put forward a new index that helped identify individual needs of children with asthma. The Asthma Health Equity Index collects and displays data related to social determinants of health (SDoH) to empower health equity efforts. The researchers tested the index by contacting the households of children who had recent emergency department visits for poorly managed asthma.
Using Community Health Partnerships to Promote Better Health OutcomesUsing Community Health Partnerships to Promote Better Health Outcomes
Social determinants of health (SDoH) play an outsized role in health outcomes. Therefore, targeting these factors through community engagement can play a big role in improving the health of those who traditionally experience health disparities. In a new article, Michael Minor of UnitedHealthcare explains how to foster health equity through partnerships with community-based organizations.
Supporting Health Equity Via Data Management
Recently, a key goal of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been to promote health equity efforts. Doing so requires a deep understanding of how social determinants of health (SDoH) impact health outcomes. In a new Medical Economics article, Kamala Green discusses how data management is central to these efforts
A Health Podyssey Podcast – Interview with Toyin Ajayi, CEO of Cityblock Health
Health equity has taken on a new focus since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the latest episode of Health Affairs’ A Health Podyssey podcast, Alan Weil talks with Dr. Toyin Ajayi, CEO of Cityblock Health. The two discuss the ins and outs of building a healthcare business that caters to people who historically face disparities in healthcare access.
AJMC Article: Addressing Healthcare Disparities and Managed Care Considerations With Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Continuous glucose monitoring is associated with better outcomes for people living with diabetes. Unfortunately, this technology is not accessible to many patients, worsening outcomes for marginalized. In a newly published article in AJMC, the barriers to continuous glucose monitoring are laid out and ways to address these disparities are put forward. The role of insurance is highlighted.
Study Identifies Social Determinants of Health in Child-Related EMS Outcomes
Research into the health impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) has grown in recent years, but there are still gaps in research of how SDOH impacts children. A study published earlier this year in Prehospital Emergency Care analyzed over 300,000 electronic health records (EHR) from EMS agencies about emergency calls involving children. A natural language processing artificial intelligence (AI) was used to extract and process data.
Meeting Patients’ Needs – the Role of the Provider
Taking on a more holistic approach to care requires consideration of a patient’s social determinants of health (SDoH). Amongst these factors is whether the patient’s basic needs are being met. A recent survey of 75 provider systems found that most providers are considering SDoH, but these efforts tend to be directed at specific patient groups rather than the whole.
Social Determinants of Health as Key Contributors to Health Inequity
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are being recognized increasingly as drivers of health inequity, contributing to worsened health outcomes for marginalized people, according to Karol Watson, MD, PhD, at the 2022 Congress of the American Society for Preventative Cardiology. During the talk, which took place this past Sunday, July 31st, Watson detailed how the disproportionate mortality rate of people of color during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlights race as an SDOH.
New Study Will Investigate Effect of Racial Inequity on Caregiver Resources and Health Outcomes
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the public spotlight on racial disparities of health outcomes, but little research has been done [...]
Using Technology and Supplemental Services to Improve Health Outcomes in Medicare Advantage Members
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are increasingly focusing on tackling health inequities. Social determinants of health (SDOH) like income, food, shelter, [...]
Developing an National Health and Equity Infrastructure Using Drivers of Health
Despite decades of work to reduce disparities in health outcomes in the US, significant gaps in care and safety remain. [...]
EULAR 2022 Abstracts Identify Racial Disparities in Gout Prevalence and Healthcare
Racial identity is widely-accepted as a social determinant of health (SDOH) that impacts health outcomes. One of two new abstracts [...]
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, [...]
American Medical Association Launches Initiative to Advance Health Equity
People from marginalized groups often face systemic bias that worsens their health outcomes. To combat this problem, the American Medical [...]
