Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final public charge immigration rule that greatly improves protections for immigrant families. We thank the Biden Administration for confirming in the final rule that eligible immigrant … [Read more...] about Final Public Charge Rule Greatly Improves Protections for Immigrant Families
equity
Black and Latinx Medicare Beneficiaries Provide Perspectives on the Health Care System
The COVID-19 pandemic’s disproportionate impact on racial and ethnic minorities highlighted longstanding and significant health disparities faced by people of color.[1] Within the Medicare population, people of color are more likely to report being … [Read more...] about Black and Latinx Medicare Beneficiaries Provide Perspectives on the Health Care System
Proposed Civil Rights Rule Marks Important Step in Restoring Health Care Protections
This week the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a proposed rule that seeks to restore critical nondiscrimination protections the previous administration rolled back. Section 1557 of the … [Read more...] about Proposed Civil Rights Rule Marks Important Step in Restoring Health Care Protections
Commonwealth Fund: Medicaid Reimbursement Rates Are a Racial Justice Issue
A recent Commonwealth Fund blog, Medicaid Reimbursement Rates Are a Racial Justice Issue, explores Medicaid reimbursement rates in the country, and ties the low rates to more limited access to care and worse outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries, who … [Read more...] about Commonwealth Fund: Medicaid Reimbursement Rates Are a Racial Justice Issue
An Exploration of the Pandemic’s Full Impact on Racial and Ethnic Minorities from March to December 2020
The United States is on track to hit a grim COVID-19 milestone. Soon, over one million people will have lost their lives to the pandemic.[1],[2] While daily death rates have fallen, the average number of daily cases is back on the rise – increasing … [Read more...] about An Exploration of the Pandemic’s Full Impact on Racial and Ethnic Minorities from March to December 2020
New Study: COVID-19-Related Discrimination Impacted All Racial/Ethnic Minorities
As the coronavirus swept through the nation, reports surfaced that Asian and Black Americans were experiencing increased discrimination. According to a Pew Research Center article published in 2020, 40 percent of Black and Asian adults noted that if … [Read more...] about New Study: COVID-19-Related Discrimination Impacted All Racial/Ethnic Minorities
New Survey | More Older Adults in the US, Especially People of Color, Suffered Economic Hardship Due to COVID-19
Since the pandemic began, it has been well documented that the risk for severe illness, hospitalization, and death related to COVID-19 is highest for older adults.[1] For people in their 50s, for example, the chances of dying from the disease is 30 … [Read more...] about New Survey | More Older Adults in the US, Especially People of Color, Suffered Economic Hardship Due to COVID-19
Kaiser Family Foundation Issues Report Comparing Cost-Related Problems for Medicare Advantage Enrollees and Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recently compared costs faced by Medicare Advantage (MA) plan enrollees to those in traditional Medicare in a report entitled “Cost-Related Problems Are Less Common Among Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare Than … [Read more...] about Kaiser Family Foundation Issues Report Comparing Cost-Related Problems for Medicare Advantage Enrollees and Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare
Recent Initiatives Focus on Understanding and Addressing the Needs of LGBTQ Older Adults in Long-Term Care
There are currently 1.1 million adults 65 and older who identify as LGBTQ. Furthermore, 1 in 5 LGTBQ older adults are Black, indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC), which creates additional layers of potential discrimination based on racial bias, in … [Read more...] about Recent Initiatives Focus on Understanding and Addressing the Needs of LGBTQ Older Adults in Long-Term Care
Studies Highlight Barriers to Health Equity: Access to Pharmacies & Telehealth
Two studies recently published in Health Affairs shed light on important health equity issues. Pharmacy Deserts/Closures One of the strategies employed by the federal government to expand nationwide access to vaccines was to establish the … [Read more...] about Studies Highlight Barriers to Health Equity: Access to Pharmacies & Telehealth