Health Equity and Access Weekly Roundup: March 9, 2024

SNAP Benefits May Help Improve Adherence to Antihypertensive Medications

A study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance may improve medication adherence among food-insecure patients with hypertension. While SNAP benefits weren't associated with overall medication adherence, they significantly reduced nonadherence rates in food-insecure individuals. The findings highlight the potential of SNAP in addressing medication adherence challenges in this population, emphasizing the need for policy interventions and clinician involvement in connecting patients with social assistance programs.

Patients on Medicare Advantage Receive Shorter, Less Intensive Home Health Care

A study published in JAMA Health Forum investigated the differences in patient outcomes between Medicare Advantage (MA) and traditional Medicare (TM) when utilizing home health care services, revealing notable variations even among patients with similar health care needs. Analyzing data from a national health care network, the study found that patients in MA experienced shorter home health stays, fewer visits from health care providers, and lower rates of improvement in self-care compared with those in TM. Despite limitations in the study, including the lack of accounting for differences in MA plans and incomplete assessments, the findings suggest potential implications for patient independence and caregiver burden within the MA system.

Addressing Patients’ Unmet Social Needs: Checklists Are a Means, Trust Is Foundational

An editorial published in the March 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®) underscores the pressing need to address systemic health care inequities highlighted by recent events. This month's issue also includes analyses of collaborative models between managed care and affordable housing and explores a new federal rule increasing Medicare payments for homeless patients. Despite the incorporation of social determinants of health (SDOH) questions into clinical workflows, there's recognition that addressing health inequities requires more than just checklists. Building trust between clinicians and patients, enhancing patient-centered care, and adopting human-centered design principles are crucial steps forward.

Evaluation of a Collaborative Model Between Managed Care and Affordable Housing on Acute Care Costs

This study published in the March issue of AJMC evaluates a collaborative service model between the largest Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) in Texas, Superior HealthPlan, and an affordable housing provider, Prospera Housing Community Services. Comparing health care outcomes and costs between participants in the collaborative model and a control group, the study finds that the collaborative group had significantly lower rates of emergency department/urgent care visits and spent less on prescription costs after implementation. These results underscore the potential benefits of multisector collaborations between MCOs and community providers in improving health care outcomes and reducing costs, particularly for underserved populations.

ACCC AMCCBS 2024: On Location Interviews, Day 2

At the Association of Cancer Care Centers' 50th Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit in Washington, DC, day 2 featured discussions on managing workforce burnout in healthcare and promoting health equity. Katherine Meese, PhD, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, discussed strategies to sustain a thriving workforce, while Nadine Barrett, PhD, MS, MPH, from Wake Forest University, highlighted the theme of health equity and shared insights from her research. The day included a leadership keynote by Meese, a panel on the benefits of 4R care sequences, and an awards ceremony honoring Robert A. Winn, MD, and Christa Braun-Inglis, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, AOCNP, for their contributions to clinical research and community clinical science, respectively.