
Health Equity & Access Weekly Roundup: April 7, 2025
Key Takeaways
- National Minority Health Month focuses on equitable care to address health disparities among diverse racial and ethnic populations.
- Erica E. Marsh emphasizes social constructs over biology in driving health inequities and advocates for "counter storytelling."
The Center on Health Equity & Access delves into the latest policy shifts, research, and expert perspectives on advancing equity and improving access to care.
American Advocacy and Action for Minority Health in 2025
National Minority Health Month this April advocates for effective and equitable care that responds to varying cultural health beliefs, languages, economic and environmental circumstances, and health literacy levels to close the health outcome gap for diverse racial and ethnic populations. This article reminisces on a powerful lecture given at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress & Expo by Erica E. Marsh, MD, MS, chief of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Division at the University of Michigan, with renewed relevance following a succession of rapid policy changes since the dawn of the new presidential administration.
The impact on the health and well-being of minority populations, reaching beyond diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) rollbacks to stricter immigration policies, increased misinformation, and degradation of social safety nets, has been severe while straining resources, increasing health care disparities, and imposing significant financial burdens on the US health care system, as demonstrated in recent research. Marsh argues that health inequities are driven more by social constructs than biology and calls for diverse communities to speak up through "
High-Impact Trials at ACC.25 Signal Shift in Chronic Disease Treatment
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11% of Americans Cannot Access Quality Health Care, Survey Finds
According to the West Health-Gallup Healthcare Indices Study, around 29 million US adults—11% of the population—are now considered "
Robert F. Kennedy Jr Faces Senate Inquiry Over Deep Cuts to HHS Impacting FDA, CDC, NIH, CMS
Robert F. Kennedy Jr, as HHS secretary, faces scrutiny and criticism for his extensive reorganization of the department, which includes massive layoffs affecting up to 10,000 employees, alongside early retirements and voluntary separations. These cuts, amounting to nearly a quarter of HHS staff, are part of a broader effort to streamline government operations, according to the White House. Despite Kennedy's aim to enhance efficiency, the restructuring has sparked significant concern among experts and lawmakers alike. Critics fear detrimental impacts on public health, biomedical research, and regulatory capabilities at agencies like the National Institutes of Health, FDA, CDC, and CMS. The upcoming Senate hearing, scheduled for April 10, will aim to address these concerns and seek clarity on the administration's strategy moving forward.
Freeze in International Funding Could Significantly Reverse Progress in HIV Treatment
A new study warns that upcoming reductions in US and international
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