Health Equity & Access Weekly Roundup: July 27, 2024

Tiara Green Calls for Comprehensive Support for Rare and Chronic Diseases

Health care inequity is costing the US billions and compromising the quality of care for those with rare and chronic diseases, according to Tiara Green, MSEd, president of Accessia Health. In an interview, Green emphasized the need to enhance health literacy, provide case management, and offer resources in education, housing, and social security disability to address these disparities. She highlighted the significant impact of social and economic factors on health equity and the importance of understanding health care basics to make informed decisions.

Dr Diane Mahoney on Tackling Ovarian Cancer Care Disparities

Diane Mahoney, PhD, from the University of Kansas Medical Center, advocated for a multidisciplinary, community-centered approach to reduce ovarian cancer care disparities. Her study on African American/Black and Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors highlighted the need to integrate social, biological, and environmental factors. Mahoney emphasized the importance of prevention, patient-centered care, and unity among health care professionals, policymakers, researchers, and the community. She called for further exploration of social determinants and inclusion of survivors' perspectives to better understand and address health disparities.

Dr Jason Spangler on Enhancing Equity in Health Technology Assessment

In this episode of Managed Care Cast, Jason Spangler, MD, MPH, CEO of the Center for Innovation and Value Research (IVI), discussed the strengths and limitations of health technology assessment, highlighting its lack of equity as a major drawback. In the interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^®, he also spoke about IVI's recent rebranding to the Center for Innovation and Value Research and how people can get involved.

Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Health Equity by Design

In this episode of the Managed Care Cast series Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity by the Center on Health Equity & Access, Melissa Clarke, MD, CMQ, chief health equity officer at Elevance Health, discussed the company's "Health Equity by Design" initiative. She explained how this initiative ensures a personalized and intentional approach for all members, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and geographic or financial access, aiming to address health inequities and disparities in the US health care system.

Dr Rachel Dalthorp Details Her Approach to Closing Gaps in Postpartum Mental Health Care

Rachel Dalthorp, MD, executive medical director of specialty services at LifeStance Health, explained how barriers to care for postpartum depression (PPD) could be addressed with the FDA-approved oral treatment zuranolone (Zurzuvae; Sage Therapeutics/Biogen). Despite its availability, only 5% of mothers with PPD receive proper treatment. Dalthorp highlighted the need for prescribers to become comfortable with zuranolone, which is effective, rapid acting, and easier to access than previous treatments. She emphasized the importance of reducing stigma, enhancing early screening and education during pregnancy, and leveraging telehealth to improve accessibility for new mothers.