Addressing health disparities in the U.S. will require a multi-front approach, including data collection and financial investments, according to an Oct. 4 report from the Healthcare Leadership Council.
The report was created in collaboration with ZS, a global management consulting and technology firm, and consisted of in-depth interviews with 35 member companies, public and patient data, a literature review and workshop.
"We view this less as a report than we do an action plan," Mary Grealy, president of the Healthcare Leadership Council said in an Oct. 4 news release. "It’s widely known that we face a serious health equity challenge in the United States, but it can’t be successfully and sustainably addressed with a piecemeal approach or without fully understanding the barriers standing in the way of progress."
Three key findings:
- There is a lack of standardized data collection, sharing and outcome measures for insights into health disparities.
- Certain populations are less likely to benefit from research and clinical trials due to lack of representation.
- Regulatory restrictions, such as anti-kickback laws, limit health equity-focused partnerships.