Category: Equity

Next Health Equity Now Huddle is June 6

June 1, 2023

Next Health Equity Now Huddle is June 6

Be sure to attend next week’s (June 6) Health Equity Huddle (HEH). Health Quality Innovators’ (HQI) Health Equity Manager Temi Olafunmiloye, BS, will lead a discussion about the May 23 Learning Session on “Assessing Disparities in Readmissions.” Click HERE to review the May 23 session if you missed it.

Also, the next Learning Session is a continuation of “Addressing Disparities in Readmissions,” which will be held on June 20. Building on the previous session, participants will focus on developing strategies to respond to common issues in disparities in readmissions, including providing early discharge planning and follow-up for high-risk patients, eliminating language and literacy barriers, and facilitating culturally competent patient education.

When: Tuesday, June 6, 12 pm ET

Future HEH Sessions:

  • June 27
  • August 1

Future Learning Sessions:

  • June 20
  • July 18

Click HERE to learn more about the Health Equity Now series.

Register Here for All Health Equity Sessions

Disparities in Health Care in Medicare Advantage Associated with Dual Eligibility for a Low-Income Subsidy and Disability Stratified Report

May 23, 2023

Disparities in Health Care in Medicare Advantage Associated with Dual Eligibility for a Low-Income Subsidy and Disability Stratified Report

The Centers for Medicaid Services” Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) released a report detailing the quality of care received by people enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA).

The Disparities in Health Care in Medicare Advantage Associated with Dual Eligibility or Eligibility for a Low-Income Subsidy and Disability report presents summary information on the performance of Medicare Advantage plans on specific measures of quality of health care reported in 2021, which corresponds to care received in 2020. Specifically, this report compares the quality of care for four groups of Medicare Advantage enrollees that are defined based on the combination of two characteristics: (1) dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid or eligibility for a Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) and (2) disability.

Overall, the report showed that people who were dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid or eligible for the Low-Income Subsidy received worse clinical care than those who were not. The largest differences between the two groups were in the areas of Follow-up After Hospital Stay for Mental Illness (within 30 days of discharge), Avoiding Potentially Harmful Drug-Disease Interactions in Elderly Patients with Dementia, and Avoiding Potentially Harmful Drug-Disease Interactions in Elderly Patients with a History of Falls. Disparities by dual eligibility status/Low-Income Subsidy eligibility status were least common among Hispanic individuals and most common among White individuals. The report also shows more pronounced disparities in clinical care for dually eligible/Low-Income Subsidy eligible individuals in urban areas as compared to rural areas.

This report is based on an analysis of data from the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS). HEDIS collects information from medical records and administrative data on the technical quality of care that Medicare Advantage enrollees receive for a variety of medical issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung disease.

Health care professionals, organizations, researchers, and hospital leaders can utilize this report along with other CMS tools and resources to help raise awareness of health disparities, develop health care interventions for Medicare Advantage enrollees who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid/Low- Income Subsidy eligible and those with disabilities, and implement quality improvement efforts that improve health equity.

Help CMS to advance equity by sharing this report and our resources on prevention and health equity initiatives. Also, sign up for CMS’ listserv or visit https://go.cms.gov/omh for more information.

Advancing Health Equity During National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May 9, 2023

Advancing Health Equity During National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

During May, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) recognizes National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.

Throughout this month, and the entire year, CMS OMH is working to highlight disparities for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders who account for more than 7% of the U.S. population, with Asian Americans being the fastest-growing race group in the United States. Between 2017 and 2019, the population of Asian Americans enrolled in Medicare grew by 11%, which was the highest percentage increase in enrollment compared to White, Black, and Hispanic enrollees.

However, nearly one-third of Asian Americans have limited English proficiency. CMS OMH’s Coverage to Care (C2C) initiative is working to close health literacy gaps and eliminate barriers to health care by helping AANHPI enrollees understand their health coverage and connect to primary care and preventive services. C2C resources are available in multiple languages—including Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese— to help individuals make informed decisions and become active partners in their health care and the health care of their families.

As the number of AANHPI Medicare enrollees grows, we are working to ensure these populations can effectively access the health care they need through policy and equity initiatives. Throughout the month of May, CMS OMH encourages you to share the below resources with the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations you serve.

Resources

Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander webpage to find behavioral health resources specific to these populations.

Opportunities of Interest for OT21-2103 Colleagues

March 3, 2023

Opportunities of Interest for OT21-2103 Colleagues

The CDC has announced two opportunities that may be of interest to your organization. Please see the information below and reach out to the points of contact listed if you have questions.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Call for Applications: the Culture of Health Prize: Communities Leading the Way is open for applications through March 29, 2023. The Prize will recognize up to 10 communities with an unrestricted $250,000 award and national recognition. RWJF will award this year’s Prize to selected communities that are:

  •  Addressing structural racism and other structural injustices to create conditions that advance health equity.
  • Committing to sustainable policy, systems, environmental, and cultural changes.
  • Working alongside partners across sectors, and elevating the expertise and solutions held by people with firsthand experiences of health inequities.
  • Engaging in cultural work that celebrates community and envisions and advances a more just future.
  • Making the most of available community resources and fostering sustainability.
  • Measuring and sharing qualitative and quantitative indicators of progress in culturally relevant ways.

For more information on the RWJF Culture of Health Prize, please contact cultureofhealthprize@hria.org.

  1. National Institutes of Health Funding Opportunity: Addressing the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination on Minority Health and Health Disparities initiative will support intervention research that addresses structural racism and discrimination (SRD) in order to improve minority health or reduce health disparities. Application budgets are limited to $500,000 direct costs annually, not including facilities and administrative (F&A) costs. Visit this webpage for key dates and detailed information on the funding opportunity.
    For questions regarding NIH grants information, application instructions, application processes, and NIH grant resources, please contact GrantsInfo@nih.gov.

Read more about this funding