Launching community-driven Initiative to combat diabetes and boost vaccination rates in Baltimore
Author: Disparity Matters
Joining national study to address cancer disparities in Asian Americans with culturally-tailored interventions to increase cancer screening
Recent studies have uncovered troubling disparities in access to free preventive care mandated by the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. Despite the law’s requirement that most health plans cover preventive services without cost to patients, minority and low-income individuals are more likely to face claim denials and unexpected out-of-pocket expenses. Research published in JAMA Network Open reveals that insurers are more prone to reject claims from Asian, Black, and Hispanic patients, as well as those with lower incomes. The study, which analyzed 2.5 million preventive care claims filed between 2017 and 2020, found that low-income patients were 43%…
A recent report by the United Health Foundation has uncovered significant health disparities among women in Maryland, surpassing national averages in several key areas. The study highlights concerning trends, particularly affecting women of color, those with lower education levels, and those in lower income brackets. One of the most striking findings reveals that Maryland women with less than a high school education are eight times more likely to be uninsured compared to their college-educated counterparts. This disparity exceeds the national average, where the gap is about six times. The state’s infant mortality rate also raises red flags. At 5.9 deaths per 1,000…
A recent study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing has uncovered a significant connection between the quality of nurses’ work environments and COVID-19 mortality rates among socially vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries. This finding sheds light on an important aspect of health disparities in the United States, particularly affecting communities facing higher levels of poverty and housing insecurity. The research, published in INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, analyzed data from 238 acute care hospitals across New York and Illinois. It revealed that patients from socially vulnerable communities were more likely to succumb to COVID-19 when hospitalized…
A new study published in JAMA Network Open reveals troubling racial disparities in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), highlighting the ongoing challenges in achieving equitable healthcare. Researchers analyzed data from three clinical trials conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network, focusing on the dosing of medications used to treat OUD. The investigation uncovered significant differences in buprenorphine and methadone dosing between Non-Hispanic Black and Non-Hispanic White participants. Non-Hispanic Black patients consistently received lower doses of these crucial medications, even after adjusting for various factors. Notably, the study found that Non-Hispanic Black participants reported lower opioid withdrawal…
Expanding access to early detection and targeted treatments for breast cancer in Black women, including a focus on the social factors that influence health outcomes
Establishing Rio Grande Valley Cancer Health Disparity Research Center to focus on health issues disproportionately affecting Hispanic population
Launching $171 million center to combat health disparities
A recent study led by researchers at UCLA and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles reveals significant inequities in substance testing at pediatric trauma centers. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that injured adolescents from marginalized groups are more likely to be tested for drugs and alcohol than their white counterparts, even when accounting for injury severity. Dr. Jordan Rook, the study’s lead author and a general surgery resident at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, pointed out that clinician biases could influence the selection of adolescents for biochemical substance use screening. These inequitable screening patterns may lead…