Becker's Healthcare May 24, 2022
Decisions by payers such as what markets to participate in or how to design coverage plans in Affordable Care Act marketplaces may be contributing to fewer insurance options for racial and ethnic minorities, according to a study published April 27 in JAMA Network Open.
The findings suggest potential care access challenges for non-Hispanic Black individuals because counties with larger non-Hispanic Black populations tended to have fewer health plans available. Findings also indicated that payer network inclusion or exclusion may be an additional factor reducing care access for non-Hispanic Black patients and increasing care inequities. The results highlight a need for examination and enforcement of network adequacy standards within ACA marketplaces.
“An important link between historical redlining and health outcomes is...