Honoring Juneteenth
No images? Click here
THE CHCF WEEKLY
June 22, 2022
Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally received word that they were free. While Juneteenth is a celebration, it is also a reminder that systemic barriers to life, liberty, health, and the pursuit of happiness still very much exist today. Too many Black Californians continue to face structural barriers to quality health care. Building an equitable and inclusive system has never been more important.
CHCF is working toward that goal with Listening to Black Californians, a major study on Black Californians’ experiences and views on health. In Their Own Words: Black Californians on Racism and Health Care, based on 100 in-depth interviews with Black Californians, summarizes Phase I of that study.
The final report of Listening to Black Californians, covering focus groups and a statewide survey of over 3,300 Black residents, is expected in late 2022.
California, home to the fifth-largest Black population of any state, has a major opportunity to be a leader in health equity.
From the Blog
Claudia Boyd-Barrett Under a grant program developed by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, local health care organizations and clinics brought the medical services directly to people staying at Project Roomkey hotels. |
Sandra R. Hernández CHCF's president and CEO, who was appointed to the commission by Governor Gavin Newsom, shares her thoughts on the panel's report. |
Recent Releases
California is developing a health information exchange policy to govern the flow of data among health care entities and government agencies by January 31, 2024. This paper outlines the technology and funding needs of health care providers to achieve robust data exchange and identifies federal funding opportunities.
This new CHCF collection highlights recommendations and tools to help the state and key partners navigate the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency while minimizing the disruptions to Californians' access to care and coverage.
Upcoming Events
Our report outlines strategies to improve care for older Californians with low incomes. On June 28 at 11 AM (PT), join safety-net leaders for a webinar as they explore how safety-net providers can meet the needs of this growing population.
ITUP is convening virtual listening sessions around the state on CalAIM implementation. Sessions are focused on building partnerships between community-based organizations and the health care delivery system to make the goals of CalAIM meaningful for communities.
Join the Center for Health Journalism on June 28 at 10 AM (PT) to hear strategies for telling stories about inequities, disparities, and racism in health care systems. Learn opportunities for bringing these hidden stories into the broader conversation.
Stories That Caught Our Attention
- 100 Million People in America Are Saddled with Health Care Debt (California Healthline)
Forty-one percent of American adults live with medical debt. Black adults are 50% more likely and Latino/x adults are 35% more likely than White adults to carry debt. Related: A recent CHCF poll found that half of Californians skipped or postponed health care in the last 12 months due to cost — and of those who postponed care, 47% report that their condition worsened as a result.
- Patients Seek Mental Health Care from Their Doctor but Find Health Plans Standing in the Way (California Healthline)
As mental health concerns have reached new heights during the pandemic, there’s a push for primary care doctors to provide mental health care. But the way many insurance plans cover mental health doesn’t support integrating it with physical care. Related: Researchers at Georgetown University reviewed California's progress in enforcing the 2008 parity law in this CHCF paper.
- Buy and Bust: When Private Equity Comes for Rural Hospitals (Kaiser Health News)
Private equity investors, with their focus on buying cheap and reaping quick returns, are moving voraciously into the US health care system. Financially distressed rural hospitals are targets, putting vulnerable communities at the mercy of firms focused on profit rather than patient health. Related: This 2020 CHCF paper looked at how the type of ownership of nursing homes affected COVID-19 incidence and outcomes.
- Virus Update: COVID Can Cloud the Brain for Half a Year, Study Finds (San Francisco Chronicle)
The neurological impact of a COVID-19 infection often persists for as long as six months after other symptoms have cleared up, according to research published by UC San Diego scientists.
- Medi-Cal Will Cover Doulas at More Than Twice California’s Initial Proposed Rate (California Healthline)
Some advocates welcomed the new benefit as a step toward professionalizing this group of nonmedical birth workers, but others called it a partial victory because they say the rate is still too low. Related: Doula care is associated with healthier outcomes for mothers and babies, including fewer c-section births, reduced use of epidural anesthesia, and an increase in breastfeeding, according to this article on The CHCF Blog.
- Uterine Cancer Is on the Rise, Especially Among Black Women (New York Times)
The cancer eventually will become the third most common type among women, experts say. The mortality rate has been increasing by almost 2% a year overall, with even sharper spikes among Asian, Latino/x, and Black women, according to a recent study. Related: The 2021 edition of CHCF's Health Disparities Almanac reveals other cancer incidence rates that vary by race and ethnicity.
Was this email forwarded to you?
