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Health Equity and Access Weekly Roundup: April 27, 2024
Racial disparities in end-of-life care, the role of wellness and faith in minority health, award-winning research on health disparities, societal factors impacting cardiometabolic health, and rising mental health challenges among US youth are all covered this week in the Center on Health Equity and Access.
Black Patients With Ovarian Cancer Had Lower-Quality End-of-Life Care, Study Says
A study in Cancer Research Communications found that non-Hispanic Black patients who have ovarian cancer receive lower-quality end-of-life (EOL) care compared with non-Hispanic White patients, revealing racial disparities in health care. Analyzing Medicare data, researchers linked factors like affordability, availability, and accessibility to these disparities. They stress the need for standardized EOL care regardless of race and call for further research to address barriers to quality care.
Empowering Community Health Through Wellness and Faith
In celebration of National Minority Health Month, we're presenting a month-long podcast series in collaboration with UPMC Health Plan. In the third episode, we speak with Camille Clarke-Smith, EdD, MS, CHES, CPT, program director of quality improvement/Medicare/SNP STARs at UPMC Health Plan, focusing on the UPMC for Life Medicare Faith and Wellness Program. Clarke-Smith's background as a health activist and wellness advocate informs her holistic approach to community health, emphasizing spiritual and community engagement with faith-based organizations and Medicare-enrolled members to address social determinants of health (SDOH) and cultural barriers, promoting physical, mental, and personal wellness.
Award-Winning Poster Presentations From AMCP 2024
The Academy of Managed Care (AMCP) 2024 annual meeting awarded posters based on criteria like originality, relevance, and quality, with platinum, gold, silver, or bronze medals distinguishing top presentations. Notable topics included research on SDOH and disease outcomes, exemplified by Jessica Duchen, MPH, Magnolia Market Access, et al's study linking electronic medical record patient cohorts with consumer SDOH data. Another highlighted study by Roy Thomas, PharmD, Dexcom, Inc, evaluated improved glycemic control in patients with diabetes through continuous glucose monitors. Additionally, Vikash K. Verma, MBA, Optum, et al’s research demonstrated the clinical impact of gene therapy on spinal muscular atrophy. Other studies investigated the cost-effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists for obesity and assessed the financial burden of disease progression in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, highlighting significant findings in health care management and outcomes.
Dr Rashon Lane Addresses How Racial, Ethnic Inequities Factor Into Cardiometabolic Health Care
Rashon Lane, PhD, MA, a senior health equity scientist at Sutter Health’s Center for Health Systems Research, discussed her presentation, "Equitable Treatment in Cardiometabolic Health Across the Lifespan," during an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care® before her appearance at the recent Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event in San Francisco. Lane emphasized the need to understand not just the existence of disparities in cardiometabolic health but also the root causes behind them, including societal factors like racism, classism, and housing and food insecurity. She highlighted the importance of addressing these structural determinants of health to effectively tackle health inequities, stressing that factors outside of the health care system influence up to 80% of health outcomes.
Mental Health Diagnoses, Care Challenges Rise Among US Youth, Report Finds
A report by Evernorth Research Institute reveals a 28% surge in mental health conditions among young people in the US since 2018, with a concerning 48% increase for those facing multiple diagnoses. Despite rising behavioral health care use, 20% of youths receive no treatment within 3 months of diagnosis. Disparities exist in treatment, with only 29% receiving both medication and therapy, highlighting concerns about holistic care. Parents of children with mental health challenges devote an average of 7.7 hours per week to their care, affecting work schedules. Urgent action is needed, with recommendations for employers to improve access to care and offer flexible scheduling to support families and communities.
Breast Cancer Treatment Disparities Impact Survival Based on Race, Age, Socioeconomics
May 9th 2024A new study has linked racial and ethnic disparities with factors like age, income, and insurance to breast cancer treatment decline. Patients who received all treatments had better survival, highlighting the need for interventions to improve access and reduce disparities.
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Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Urban Health Outreach
May 9th 2024In the series debut episode of "Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity," Mary Sligh, CRNP, and Chelsea Chappars, of Allegheny Health Network, explain how the Urban Health Outreach program aims to improve health equity for individuals experiencing homelessness.
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CMS Medicare Final Rule: Advancing Benefits, Competition, and Consumer Protection
May 7th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Karen Iapoce, senior director of government products and programs at ZeOmega, about the recent CMS final rule on Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage.
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Medication Adherence Star Ratings Measures, Health Care Resource Utilization, and Cost
May 9th 2024For patients prescribed diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia medications, nonadherence to CMS Star Ratings quality measures of medication adherence was associated with increased health care resource utilization and costs.
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