Improving Equality in US Healthcare: Effective Strategies
TL/DR –
A new report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine states that despite some progress, more action is needed to address the wide gaps in US healthcare among different racial and ethnic backgrounds. The report, “Ending Unequal Treatment,” recommends actions such as the diversification of healthcare workforces, enforcing current anti-discrimination laws, and making affordable health insurance universally available, among others. The report comes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic which has highlighted and exacerbated healthcare disparities, reversing over a decade of progress in reducing life expectancy gaps among racial and ethnic groups.
Addressing Racial Disparities in U.S. Health Care
A prominent report in 2003 revealed the racial and ethnic disparities in American health care. Despite similar incomes or insurance coverage, the quality of care varied widely between different racial and ethnic groups. This report, “Unequal Treatment,” catalyzed significant changes and informed the Affordable Care Act.
The question remains: Has the inequality lessened? A new report titled “Ending Unequal Treatment” by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, suggests that while progress has been made, more action is needed. The report, authored by John Z. Ayanian, M.D., M.P.P., of the University of Michigan, highlights the link between health care inequities and poor health outcomes.
The report reveals that racial and ethnic disparities in the U.S. health care system remain a critical flaw. These disparities are driven by complex interactions between multiple factors, and have detrimental effects on the health of affected individuals.
Recommendations for Change
To address these disparities, the report proposes a range of strategies.
- Continuing efforts to diversify healthcare workforce and research.
- Increasing health equity through comprehensive solutions.
- Enhancing research and evaluation to drive improvements.
- Enforcing existing laws and policies against discrimination in health care such as the Affordable Care Act.
- Establishing stronger enforceable standards for nonprofit hospitals about their community services.
- Seeking congressional action for affordable health insurance for everyone regardless of immigration status or state of residence.
- Equalizing Medicaid’s payments to physicians and hospitals.
- Securing full funding for the Indian Health Service.
- Addressing Medicaid funding gap for U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico.
- Strengthening data collection on race and ethnicity in the federal government.
- Expanding projects addressing health-related social needs.
The report emphasizes that these recommendations can help reduce health care inequities, and the COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the urgent need for such reforms. Despite progress made in improving life expectancy among various racial and ethnic backgrounds, the pandemic exposed and worsened health disparities.
The report aims to guide effective policy changes and practices to reduce health inequities in the United States.
More information: Georges C. Benjamin et al, Ending Unequal Treatment, (2024). DOI: 10.17226/27820
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