Health Equity & Access Weekly Roundup: January 23, 2026

Low Socioeconomic Status Raises Mortality Risk in Young Adults With mCRC

Among more than 3100 young adults aged 18 to 49 years with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (SES)—not race or ethnicity—was independently associated with survival, a new study found. Using data from the nationwide Flatiron Health database, researchers observed that 3-year survival was lowest among patients from the lowest-SES neighborhoods compared with those from the highest-SES areas, and although Black patients initially appeared to have worse survival than White patients, this association was no longer significant after adjusting for clinical and demographic factors. Overall, the findings highlight that structural and socioeconomic conditions play a key role in driving survival disparities in young adults with mCRC and underscore the need for policies and interventions that address upstream inequities to improve outcomes in this growing patient population.

Gates Foundation, OpenAI Launch $50M AI Health Initiative in Africa

The Gates Foundation and OpenAI have launched a $50 million initiative, Horizon1000, to deploy artificial intelligence (AI)–powered tools in up to 1000 primary care clinics across Africa, beginning in Rwanda, with the goal of supporting health workers, improving care delivery, and mitigating the impact of declining international aid. The effort aims to strengthen overstretched health systems facing workforce shortages by integrating AI into clinical workflows and operations while serving as a scalable model for broader adoption across the continent. The partnership highlights both the promise of AI to expand access to and improve the quality of care in low-resource settings and the need to address infrastructure, data, and policy challenges to ensure responsible and effective implementation.

Federal Prevention Solutions to Homelessness Improved Health Outcomes in VA Patients

Federal homelessness prevention through the Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program was associated with improved survival and lower inpatient health care costs among veterans at risk of homelessness, according to new findings. Using an emulated randomized trial of more than 690,000 veterans receiving VA care, researchers showed that those enrolled in SSVF had a lower risk of mortality and substantially reduced inpatient costs over 3 years compared with usual care, despite slightly higher outpatient spending. The findings underscore the health and economic benefits of housing stability and suggest that federal homelessness prevention policies can yield meaningful improvements in outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Suboptimal Cardiovascular Risk Management Found in Mexican Adults With Diabetes

Adults with diagnosed diabetes in Mexico have persistently poor control of key cardiovascular risk factors despite rising cardiovascular risk, results from a new study show. Using national survey data from 2016 to 2023, researchers reported that only 29% of individuals achieved glycemic control, 23% controlled blood pressure, and fewer than 7% met LDL cholesterol targets, even as statin use increased substantially. Overall, combined cardiovascular risk factor control remained rare and was more likely among women, younger adults, and those with higher education and socioeconomic status, highlighting an urgent need for comprehensive strategies beyond glycemic management to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this population.

How ED Policies Can Better Protect Survivors of Violence: A Q&A With Prashasti Bhatnagar, Esq, MPH

In an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care®, Prashasti Bhatnagar, Esq, MPH, discussed findings from a multistakeholder study examining how law enforcement presence in emergency departments (EDs) affects survivors of violence and patient care. Drawing on interviews with survivors, hospital-based violence intervention professionals, clinicians, and law enforcement officers, the study identified shared support for trauma-informed, patient-centered strategies such as limiting and triaging law enforcement interactions, formalizing hospital–police policies and training, and integrating survivor advocates in the ED. The work highlights how unregulated law enforcement presence can exacerbate trauma and inequities, particularly for marginalized patients, while also pointing to practical, consensus-driven approaches to improve safety, dignity, and healing without undermining clinical or investigative needs.