Center on Health Equity & Access

Olalekan Ajayi, PharmD, MBA, 2023-2024 president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) and chief operating officer of Highlands Oncology Group, PA, reflects upon his role at ACCC and highlights key topics in oncology care and cancer research that will be presented at the National Oncology Conference.

The October issue of Health Affairs examines the multifaceted aspects of structural racism in health care, exploring historical roots, policy implications, public biases, innovative solutions, and institutional challenges, urging action to confront and dismantle disparities.

Robin Shah, CEO of Thyme Care, which he founded in 2020 with Bobby Green, MD, president and chief medical officer, joins hosts Emeline Aviki, MD, MBA, and Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, to discuss his evolution as an entrepreneur in oncology care innovation and his goal of positively changing how patients experience the cancer system.

Shrilla Banerjee, MD, FRCP, consultant cardiologist, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, shares what politicians and clinical trialists can do to help mitigate cardiovascular health disparities.

ViiV Healthcare is developing a self-injectable HIV drug similar to Cabenuva; HHS met with insurance companies to resolve COVID-19 vaccine coverage issues; the FDA has greenlit drugmaker Novo Nordisk to add reports of ileus, or intestinal blockage, to its Ozempic label.

Family history is probably the biggest risk factor that patients need to know about, said Rebecca Brooks, MD, UC Davis Health.

Seun Ross, PhD, describes the goals Independence Blue Cross has for improving maternal health, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and behavioral health.

As of November 2022, the Pittsburgh Financial Empowerment Center has helped 1227 clients, saved them over $2 million, and helped reduce their debt by almost $3.5 million. Counselor Alicia Donner discusses how the organization not only provides financial assistance but also helps patients cope with unexpected health care expenses.

In their latest recommendation statement, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends blood pressure screening for all pregnant individuals to detect hypertensive disorders.

Higher neighborhood-level opportunity and social vulnerability measures were associated with pediatric asthma incidence, a new study has found.

To reduce the global burden of respiratory diseases and tackle inequalities, the Forum of International Respiratory Studies and the American Thoracic Society suggested improving access to preventive services, inhaler therapies, and effective pneumonia vaccines.

Employees want to know that their employers have a vested interest in their health, Vikki Walton, MBA, health equity leader at Mercer, explains.

At the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Oncology Policy Summit, prominent figures in the health care industry from diverse organizations emphasized a commitment to advancing health equity and addressing pressing social and health disparities.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the senior author of a study published in the September 2023 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® on the importance of adequate and effective lung cancer risk factor documentation to determine a patient's eligibility for screening.

Matthew Crowley, MD, MHS, associate professor of medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, discusses telehealth initiatives at Duke Health, as well as overcoming virtual challenges and barriers that underserved and underinsured patient populations who need diabetes care face.

The median age of death remained consistently 10 years lower for Black and Hispanic males in comparison to White males, underscoring a critical area for further attention.

Researchers found that analyzing certain chemokine levels may help explain racial disparities in prostate cancer lethality, and that neutralizing such chemokines could potentially benefit prostate cancer treatment.

At the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health 2023 Wellness Summit, Seun Ross, PhD, explains the business case for achieving health equity.

"CMS cannot do this alone. We have to do this in partnership. So really thinking about providers and beneficiaries and how we do this together," Ellen Lukens, MPH, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, explained.

Laurie Sobel, the associate director for women’s health policy at KFF, moderated a panel discussion with Christine Gilroy, MD, MPH; Victoria Nichols, MPH; and Don Downing, RPh, about insurance coverage of FDA-approved Opill and other OTC contraceptives.

If clinicians empower individuals by giving them the appropriate tools and education to promote brain health, it can make a big difference, said Alvaro Pascual-Leone, MD, PhD.

The UPMC Health Plan Neighborhood Center, which first opened its doors in December 2022, offers a wide array of services to support plan members and others living in the community.

Various health programs may shut down at the end of September without congressional action; maternal health experts push for midwife workforce expansion amidst high maternal mortality rates in the United States; studies find that heightened screen time in teens and tweens before bed can result in a lack of sleep.

Medicare Advantage enrollment was higher among immigrants compared with US-born residents, but the highest enrollment was found among immigrants with limited English proficiency.

During this session at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Policy Summit, Yelak Biru, MSc, and Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, explained the importance of screening for and addressing health-related social needs.