Healthcare treatment outcomes have several variables, including the patient's wealth, according to a new story from the U.S. News & World Report.
There is a big gap between the healthiest and sickest people in the United States, and variables such as income, education, housing, race, gender and geography are noticeable in the gap. Life expectancy is different for different demographics and patients with unmanaged chronic health issues tend toward certain demographics.
Here are eight key notes from the report:
1. The disparity between patient health, access to hospitals and health insurance are three major factors in the difference between wealthy and poor Americans. The ACA is working to narrow the health insurance coverage gaps, but the law has only made "limited advances" toward providing access to quality healthcare for all.
2. Life expectancy can vary as much as 30 years between the richest and poorest counties in the United States. The life expectancy for both wealthy and poor populations is increasing, but at a slower rate for the poorer demographic.
3. People who live in poor housing and "degraded environments" report higher suicide rates, more violence, drug overdose, accidents and smoking than Americans with more favorable housing options. These factors hurt racial and ethnic minorities more than other groups, as they often have more ailments and access to worse care.
4. Several studies have outlined the implicit bias among healthcare providers that could lead to African-Americans and other minorities receiving worse care. According to the report, substandard care can lead to 260 premature deaths in the African-American population daily, resulting in a shorter life span for the population overall.
5. There are some states opting out of the Medicaid expansion, which hurts a certain population of adults who aren't in the Medicaid eligibility but still below the lower limit for the health insurance tax credits. The coverage gap in Texas, for example, is 26 percent; in Florida it's 20 percent. In the south, it's 89 percent.
6. Providing health insurance hasn't been enough to close the gap; however targeting effective and inexpensive interventions may be a solution. There have been improvements to issues such as African-American infant mortality, which has gone down since U.S. hospitals desegregated in the 1960s.
7. Accountable care organizations truly focused on providing better outcomes could link financial success to patient health and improve outcomes overall. Population health initiatives in partnership with government officials and community leaders can make an impact and provide education for depressed communities.
8. Building a foundation of good primary care can root out health disparities in communities where people don't have access to health education. Then taking a team approach to healthcare can improve communication and overall outcomes.