Health Care Disparities in the Post-Affordable Care Act Era
Health Care Disparities in the Post-Affordable Care Act Era
Underutilization of effective preventive health services and early detection interventions remains a persistent barrier to reducing the chronic disease burden. Health services research consistently demonstrates that cost is a significant barrier to health care utilization, particularly for preventive services. Although cost is a particularly overwhelming barrier for low-income populations, even individuals from wealthier families underuse preventive services when out-of-pocket spending is required. Under the ACA, private health plans are required to cover preventive health services recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force at no cost to the patient. Lowering out-of-pocket costs is one approach that may increase screenings and preventive care among low-income populations, but take-up of preventive health services is conditional upon patient awareness of insurance benefits under the ACA. Some newly insured populations may not know the full array of health services available to them. Other patients may be misinformed on the effectiveness of screenings, immunizations, and other forms of preventive medicine.
Addressing these knowledge gaps is paramount for eliminating disparities in preventive health services utilization, and providers will play a critical role toward achieving the goal that all patients receive age-appropriate preventive health services. For example, the use of community health workers and peer counselors has been suggested as practical methods to educate communities about the importance and availability of preventive services.
Preventive Health Services
Underutilization of effective preventive health services and early detection interventions remains a persistent barrier to reducing the chronic disease burden. Health services research consistently demonstrates that cost is a significant barrier to health care utilization, particularly for preventive services. Although cost is a particularly overwhelming barrier for low-income populations, even individuals from wealthier families underuse preventive services when out-of-pocket spending is required. Under the ACA, private health plans are required to cover preventive health services recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force at no cost to the patient. Lowering out-of-pocket costs is one approach that may increase screenings and preventive care among low-income populations, but take-up of preventive health services is conditional upon patient awareness of insurance benefits under the ACA. Some newly insured populations may not know the full array of health services available to them. Other patients may be misinformed on the effectiveness of screenings, immunizations, and other forms of preventive medicine.
Addressing these knowledge gaps is paramount for eliminating disparities in preventive health services utilization, and providers will play a critical role toward achieving the goal that all patients receive age-appropriate preventive health services. For example, the use of community health workers and peer counselors has been suggested as practical methods to educate communities about the importance and availability of preventive services.
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