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What systemic barriers prevent individuals and families in poverty from accessing healthcare in the US?

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What systemic barriers prevent individuals and families in poverty from accessing healthcare in the US?

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Individuals in poverty continue to face the consequences of the many systemic barriers in the US. These barriers have long been established and have affected approximately 26 million Americans.

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The State of Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.

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This brief presents findings from the Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey to describe the state of Americans’ health insurance coverage in 2024.

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No Transportation and Lack of Public Transportation

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No Transportation and Lack of Public Transportation

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Urban Institute | Upward Mobility Initiative

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Access to transportation reduces barriers to employment, educational opportunities, health care, and child care, which can lead to economic success, a sense of power and autonomy, and feelings of belonging.Evidence on the Relationship between Transportation Access and Upward Mobility OutcomesAs of December 2021, researchers have documented the following connections between this predictor and upward mobility. Asterisk (*) indicates primary reference.

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Introduction

For nearly two decades, the Commonwealth Fund has tracked health and health care in each state, seeking both to understand how the policy choices we make affect people's health outcomes and to motivate the change needed to improve the health of all communities across the United States. But assessing how well a state performs on average can mask the profound inequities that many people experience.

This report evaluates disparities in health and health care across racial and ethnic groups, both within states and between U.S. states. We collected data for 25 indicators of health system performance, specifically focusing on health outcomes, access to health care, and quality and use of health care services for Black, white, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN), and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations. We then produced a health system performance "score" for each of the five racial and ethnic groups in every state where we were able to make direct comparisons between those groups and between groups in other states. (For complete details on our methods, see How We Measure Performance of States' Health Care Systems for Racial and Ethnic Groups.)

Our hope is that policymakers, health system leaders, and community stakeholders will use this tool to investigate the impact of current and past health policies on different racial and ethnic groups and to take steps to ensure an equitable health care system for the future.

Overview of Health Disparities in the United States

Profound racial and ethnic disparities in health, well-being, and life expectancy have long been the norm in the United States. These disparities are especially stark for Black and AIAN people, who live fewer years, on average, than white and Hispanic people and are more likely to die from treatable conditions, more likely to die during or after pregnancy and suffer serious pregnancy-related complications, more likely to lose children in infancy, and are at higher risk for many chronic health conditions, from diabetes to hypertension.

The COVID-19 pandemic only made things worse. Its disproportionate impact on Black, Hispanic, and AIAN people caused a sharper decline in average life expectancy since 2020 for these groups compared to white people.

Factors contributing to health disparities. Deep racial and ethnic disparities in health are driven by factors inside and outside state health care systems. For example, in many communities where people of color live, poverty rates are higher than average, levels of pollution and crime are elevated, and green spaces are few - all key contributors to health disparities. A lack of affordable, quality health care options, meanwhile, can make it difficult to get timely treatment - a barrier that people of color disproportionately face. Black, Hispanic, and AIAN people are also less likely than other groups to have health insurance, more likely to delay care because of costs, and more likely to incur medical debt. And they are less likely to have a usual source of care or to regularly receive timely preventive services like vaccinations.

Studies show as well that many people of color contend with interpersonal racism and discrimination in health care settings and more often receive worse medical care than white patients. According to an assessment by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Black patients received worse care than white patients on 52 percent of quality measures in 2023. The study also found marked disparities in quality of care and patient safety with respect to heart disease, cancer, stroke, maternal health outcomes, pain management, and surgery.

The policy choices that federal, state, and local leaders have made over many decades have led to economic suppression, unequal educational access, and widespread housing segregation, all of which have contributed in their own ways to worse health outcomes for people of color. While the nation's steady and slow progress toward universal, comprehensive coverage has narrowed racial and ethnic disparities in coverage and access to care, it has not eliminated them. In particular, the 10 states that have yet to expand eligibility for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), have the largest coverage gaps by race and ethnicity.

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Advancing Racial Equity in U.S. Health Care

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This report evaluates disparities in health and health care across racial and ethnic groups, both within states and between U.S. states.

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Hospital Access and Decreasing Amount of Healthcare Workers

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Hospital Access and Decreasing Amount of Healthcare Workers

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Healthcare Access in Rural Communities Overview - Rural Health Information Hub

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Provides resources and answers frequently asked questions related to healthcare access. Discusses the importance of primary care for rural residents and covers barriers to healthcare access in rural areas, such as transportation, insurance, and workforce issues. Highlights strategies to improve acce…

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Health Facility Hours Are The Same As Work Hours 

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Health Facility Hours Are The Same As Work Hours 

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Living In Low-Income Neighborhoods/Being Low Income

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Living In Low-Income Neighborhoods/Being Low Income

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Poor Experiences With Care, Distrust of Providers

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Poor Experiences With Care, Distrust of Providers

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This post is the first in a "Listening to Low-Income Patients" series that will draw on this qualitative research to describe, in patients' own words, different issues that impact their health such as quality of health care, community, and mental health and addiction.

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Reconsidering the Effects of Poverty and Social Support on Health: A 5-Year Longitudinal Test of the Stress-Buffering Hypothesis

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Prior research in the general population has found that social support can buffer the adverse effects of stressors on health. However, both stressors and social support may be qualitatively different for those living in urban poverty. We examined…

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Car Access and Economic Mobility | Capital One

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Post-pandemic changes in where people work and live haven’t changed the perception that access to a car would have significant economic benefits.

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Access Is Necessary but Not Sufficient: Factors Influencing Delay and Avoidance of Health Care Services

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Background: Despite recently expanded access to health insurance, consumers still face barriers to using their coverage to obtain needed health care. Objective: To examine the characteristics of those who delay or avoid health care due to costs.…

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Insurance Doesn't Cover All Medical Costs

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Insurance Doesn't Cover All Medical Costs

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An update to state rules regarding the cleanup of toxic pollution is expected to bring more attention to factors like race, ethnicity and income within populations that live near contaminated sites.

Years of struggle have led to reduced pollution and a stronger sense of community in the Duwamish Valley. As cleanup efforts there continue, environmental justice has come front and center for the area's diverse populations.

The recently approved HEAL Act requires the state of Washington to address issues of environmental justice within its agencies. The Act is expected to be signed by the governor and focuses on inequities in environmental health conditions for disenfranchised populations.

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Why is so much pollution found in disadvantaged communities?

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An update to state rules regarding the cleanup of toxic pollution is expected to bring more attention to factors like race, ethnicity and income within populations that live near contaminated sites. Years of struggle have led to reduced pollution and a stronger sense of community in the Duwamish Valley.

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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

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✉Correspondence to Dr Kristin S Alvarez; kristin.alvarezphhs.org ✉Corresponding author.

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Addressing childcare as a barrier to healthcare access through community partnerships in a large public health system

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In our public health system, a survey of reproductive-aged women identified lack of childcare as the most common reason for missing or delaying healthcare. Community-based organisations (CBOs) in our county identified a similar need, so we partnered…

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Social Inequities Reflected in Wait Times: The Poor Wait Longer

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Longer wait times for services faced by Black Americans and lower income Americans have clear impacts, even beyond stress and the loss of productivity. Longer waits for medical services result in worse health outcomes, and long lines at the polls impact people's ability to vote.

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Proposed Medicaid Cuts Could Jeopardize Health Care Access for 3 in 10 Young Adults

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Medicaid makes health care accessible to more than 2.7 million young adults in the US. Making it more difficult to apply for and maintain benefits could…

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Eating healthy, getting regular medical check-ups, exercising and sleeping sufficiently are all behaviors well-known to influence health quality. However, studies suggest one unexpected factor that can predict how long people will live: education.

Education gives people the tools they need to lead fulfilling lives, thrive personally, and contribute to their communities. In addition, education makes it more likely a person can access quality healthcare, find employment that pays a living wage, and live in a safe, non-polluted environment - all factors that affect well-being. In fact, people who live in lower socioeconomic conditions are at greater risk for a host of health issues, including higher rates of disease, mental illness, and premature death, according to Healthy People 2020.

Access to quality education early in life, high school graduation, and a college education can all provide opportunities for people to shift their socioeconomic status, reducing the likelihood of these negative health outcomes in return. Because of this, understanding how education impacts the health of communities is vital for public health professionals fighting to end health inequity.

Social Determinants of Health

Good health is central to living well. The absence of disease and injury alone does not make people healthy. Healthy people enjoy a combination of physical, mental, and social well-being, three aspects of health that all influence one another.

Physical health refers to the body's ability to function at its best, resist disease, and recover from illness and injury, while mental health focuses on one's ability to enjoy life, adapt and respond to setbacks, and manage depression and anxiety.

While defining physical and mental health may seem clear cut, social health can seem more nebulous. So what is social health and how does it play into a person's overall well-being?

Social health has to do with the ability to form satisfying personal relationships and interact with others in healthy ways. Can a person make connections with family or neighbors and share thoughts and feelings about a disappointing rejection from a love interest or an exciting job prospect? Social health allows people to feel a sense of belonging. In this case, people sense they have allies in the world, people who will celebrate with them at the birth of a child and mourn with them at the loss of a loved one.

Socially healthy people can also adapt to different social situations. They can make new friends when they move into a new neighborhood, communicate with their children's teachers during parent-teacher conferences, and relax at a weekend barbecue with friends. Not surprisingly, social health usually comes out of living in conditions where a person experiences social support either from family, friends, or counselors. Having adequate social support can reduce the negative effects of stress and disease.

All three aspects of health can impact one another. For example, poor physical health can lead to depression and affect a person's outlook on life as well as add to feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Conversely, poor mental health often leads to physical problems such as a weakened immune system, insomnia, or high blood pressure. However, a solid social support network can improve people's chances to get the help they need for mental and physical health issues.

Many factors, or social determinants of health, affect a person's overall health and well-being. Where people live, work, go to school, and socialize, and the conditions of those environments, all play a significant role because they can be an indicator of economic stability, access to quality health care, social and community context, and neighborhood and built environment.

Consider the physical, mental and social health effects of living in a run-down home full of lead paint, working a full-time job that offers poverty wages and no paid leave, or attending a short-staffed school located in a crime-ridden area. Lead paint exposure can cause brain damage in children, and neglected schools can leave students feeling isolated and hopeless. A lack of paid leave can get in the way of a family's access to consistent health care. Residents of neighborhoods with high crime rates feel less safe.

Economic Stability

Economic stability includes elements such as work environment and wages, sufficient money for food and housing, and socioeconomic status. Each of these factors can affect health in different ways. For example, someone like a police officer, who works in a high-pressure environment, may experience psychosocial stress, while a factory worker may be exposed to toxic chemicals that cause disease.

Studies cited in Healthy People 2020 show that people who can't buy enough food are more likely to experience chronic diseases and children who face food insecurity are at increased risk for obesity, malnutrition, and developmental problems.

Additionally, when people spend 30% or more of their salaries on housing, they often have little money for other necessities like nutritious food or prescription medications. Such a housing-cost burden can also lead to frequent forced moves, which studies show increases the risk of chronic health conditions in children and limits access to consistent health care and education. When people's financial circumstances force them to choose between paying for insulin to control their diabetes and buying a bus ticket to get to work, they are faced with a dilemma that creates stress.

Education

People who have access to quality education throughout their lives tend to stay healthier than people who don't. Not only does education give individuals a chance at upward mobility, which places them in better financial circumstances to access quality health care, it also keeps them better informed about how to take care of their health. For example, an individual with a college degree may have better skills to evaluate conflicting or complex information they read on the internet about how to care for their prediabetes. In addition, someone with less formal education may be less prepared to decide between reliable and unreliable information.

Less education is linked to lower income, which is linked to poorer health. Numerous studies show that people in lower socioeconomic situations experience more obesity, asthma, diabetes, heart disease and other health problems than people in better financial circumstances.

Additionally, a recent study also shows higher education helps individuals secure higher paying work with fewer safety risks. Ultimately, more highly educated people have greater economic resources to afford things like better housing far away from environmental toxins and expert doctors trained in the most effective techniques.

Social and Community Context

Social and community context, another important social determinant of health, encompasses:

Civic activities - voting, volunteering, and participating in community groups

Social cohesion - solidarity between community members

Discrimination

Incarceration

These elements can affect health in various ways. For example, people who participate in civic and community activities can make social connections, become more physically fit, and better manage mental health issues like depression. Consider how joining a bi-weekly tai chi or play-reading class at a local community center could improve a senior's sense of belonging, or how volunteering at a food bank could help a depressed teenager feel a sense of purpose. While physically distancing during COVID-19, participating in social community events virtually and connecting with others over video chat can also have a positive effect on overall health and wellbeing.

Structural discrimination, or policies in public and private institutions that disproportionately affect particular groups, can also impact health. Unequal access to housing and health care, or policies that result in disproportionate interactions with the criminal justice system increase psychosocial stress and mental health problems, according to Healthy People 2020. New York City's stop and frisk policing is one example of a policy that involved aggressive detaining and searching of millions of New Yorkers, mostly Latinos and African Americans, and resulted in greater levels of anxiety and depression, according to a recent study.

Health and Health Care

Access to primary health care, a regular source of care that detects and treats diseases and provides preventative services, is an important part of staying well. However, when barriers, such as inadequate health insurance coverage or a shortage of care providers prevent people from getting these services, health suffers.

Fewer people die from cancer, heart disease, and stroke when they have access to primary care, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. That's because primary care gives individuals a chance to pay attention to their health. For instance, an Oregon study on Medicaid found that uninsured adults with diabetes who gained access to health care through Medicaid, significantly increased their use of needed diabetic medications.

What empowers people to care for their own health? Health literacy, or the ability to obtain and understand health information, is an important tool. Individuals who understand various health risks and the precautions that can reduce those risks can better safeguard themselves.

For instance, knowing the risks of sexually transmitted infections and ways to avoid them allows people to take steps to keep themselves healthy. Additionally, a recent study found an association between low health literacy and more hospitalizations, fewer mammography screenings and flu vaccines, and higher mortality rates among the elderly.

Neighborhood and Built Environment

Environmental conditions where people live, access to healthy foods and quality housing, and the absence or presence of violence and crime, all play a significant role in people's health.

To help prevent obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes, diets should include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein and limited saturated fats. However, living in neighborhoods that lack grocery stores that sell fresh nutritious foods (i.e., food deserts) or lacking the money to purchase these foods puts people at a greater risk for poor health.

Environmental contaminants affect the air people breathe, the water they drink, and the chemicals they are exposed to. Communities living near landfills can breathe in methane and carbon dioxide, which cause strained breathing, nausea and fatigue, and even loss of consciousness. Further, people living in houses with mold, poor plumbing, and poor ventilation can experience increased asthma, respiratory problems, lead poisoning, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Finally, crime and violence also factor into people's well-being. Those who experience crime and violence not only endure physical pain and injury, but may also experience depression, suicidal thoughts and anxiety.

Additionally, violence and crime have other effects. People who live in high crime neighborhoods may avoid going outside out of fear for their safety. This lack of physical activity can lead to negative health outcomes. In fact, one study found that people who feel unsafe in their neighborhoods experience higher levels of obesity.

When so many factors contribute to a person's well-being, few can deny education as a social determinant of health. Countless links between education and health show that individuals with higher levels of education live healthier and longer lives than those who are less educated.

Starting from early childhood, research shows links between access to education and better health. Healthy People 2020 cites studies that show how early childhood programs can foster physical and mental development. Children attending Head Start, an early learning program that prepares young children from low income households for elementary school, for example, will likely lead those children to experience health benefits both during and after their participation in the program.

On the other hand, children enrolled in schools lacking in health resources and teacher support tend to experience poorer physical and mental health. Educational opportunities earlier in life have lasting effects on health through adulthood. A study by the Carolina Abecedarian Project found that those who participated in quality early childhood education programs engaged in fewer risky behaviors like binge-drinking and cigarette smoking at age 21.

Benefits of early comprehensive education programs extend ever further. According to a recent report, adults who participated in these programs as children were at lower risk for obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and high cholesterol in their mid-30's.

The inclination to eat a salad instead of French fries, or bike to work instead of drive is cultivated early in a person's life. The evidence makes a solid case for investing in early childhood education programs.

Completion of high school can also serve as a health indicator. Healthy People 2020 cites numerous studies that found links between dropping out of high school and premature death and poor health. Additionally, the article "Dropping Out of School and Chronic Disease in the United States" found that those who do not graduate high school report having at least one chronic health condition such as hepatitis, stomach ulcers, or heart disease.

A college education is associated with even greater health benefits. Research shows that with increasing levels of college education people are less likely to die from cancer and cardiovascular disease. College graduates also report better health compared to high school graduates. One study found 13% of study participants with a high school degree or less died prematurely, while only 5% of the college graduates died prematurely.

Why the links between higher levels of education and better health? In many ways, the connection between the two is clear cut. Most people find their way to financial stability through education. Greater financial stability allows for increased access to good health insurance and safe housing in unpolluted environments. In turn, access to doctors creates more opportunities for people to gain important information about their health. In addition, education prepares people to analyze information and manage complex problems, critical skills needed to navigate today's complicated healthcare system.

Improving Healthcare Equity Through Education

Many variables within education are linked to health: literacy, high school graduation, and enrollment in higher education each present opportunities to improve education and thereby promote health equity. By researching solutions and initiating programs that address education disparities, public health professionals can create pathways that lead people to healthier lives.

Limited health literacy and limited general literacy can prevent people from learning about health, using medication properly and taking advantage of preventative services, according to several studies cited in Healthy People 2020. For example, someone with poor health literacy about their epilepsy might take their anti-seizure medications irregularly and actually provoke seizures as a result. Further, someone with poor literacy in general may have difficulty evaluating and applying explanations from their doctor about how to manage their condition.

Limited English proficiency creates similar barriers. Health care providers and organizations need to develop and use methods that will help diverse populations understand and make good decisions about their health.

Well-designed plans can address barriers to good health. The CDC developed the "Health Action Literacy Plan," which makes health information more accessible and offers a framework that other health care organizations can use to address literacy issues.

The plan's goals include incorporating health and science curricula into education from early childhood education through college. Some health literacy toolkits recommend healthcare providers and organizations develop ways to simplify health communication and integrate comprehension checks into interactions between patients and their providers.

Ensuring high school graduation is another important step in promoting health equity. Programs centered on increasing high school graduation rates need to address risk factors such as safety issues and violence in schools, pregnancy, and below-grade reading levels that often lead students to dropping out, according to Healthy People 2020.

Another study found that high school programs with the following elements also increase graduation:

Vocational training

Alternative schooling (small class sizes with focused remediation on the issues problematic for the student)

Social-emotional skills training

Just as targeted programs can help students graduate high school, they can also encourage students to attend college. Initiatives that guide high school students through the college admission and financial aid application processes can help students overcome barriers to going to college. Furthermore, programs that help students advance their math and reading skills can improve college enrollment rates as well.

In addition, a recent study argues for expanded remedial education, financial aid, and student support services. The study recommends these efforts to ensure all students have a chance to attend and succeed in college.

While such programs are critical, efforts to get students into college must start much earlier. Strengthening primary and secondary curricula must be a priority.

Careers in Public Health Education

Do you want to find solutions that address the social determinants of health? By joining the comprehensive efforts of private and public organizations, public health experts help develop, implement, and analyze initiatives that promote health and address health inequities. Public health professionals play a key role in program coordination, health advocacy and education, management, and community health services.

Careers in public health education fall under several umbrellas, including community health education, school health education, business and nonprofit health education, academia, government and health departments, and health care. Within these categories public health professionals can find work opportunities that suit a range of expertise and interests.

Health Programs Management Directors work in an academic capacity as public health advocates who develop and implement programs that promote health and wellness. They usually work in either clinical or office environments.

Education Program Managers tackle many vital roles, including the coordination and planning of health educational programs. These programs focus on topics such as reproductive health, nutrition, and teen pregnancy prevention, among others. Education Program Managers often conduct community outreach and develop curricula that educates on specific health topics.

Directors of Outreach and Partnerships manage strategic coalitions, create partnerships with other organizations and oversee public education programs. They may oversee the development of outreach and health educational materials, as well as deliver educational presentations and webinars.

Public health professionals play a critical role in protecting people's health and preventing health issues before they start. Their work may involve assessing and addressing the health risks of a community exposed to lead in their water or developing a pediatric dental hygiene education program for children with frequent cavities. By educating communities about healthy lifestyle choices, creating programs that make health care and social support more accessible, and advocating for policies that ensure everyone has safe food and water, public health professionals help address social determinants of health to promote health equity.

Public health professionals collaborate with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals but their reach extends beyond the medical world. They achieve their goals to improve health by partnering with educators, city planners, first responders, and child welfare workers. They coordinate across organizations, offering epidemiological information to emergency responders, and they empower communities to take charge of their own well-being.

Inspired by the opportunity to innovate solutions that address health inequities? Learn more about Tulane University's Online Master of Public Health to find out how public health professionals help build a more equitable and just world.

Sources
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, "AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit" American Academy of Family Physicians, "Why Primary Care Matters" American Journal of Preventative Medicine, "Programs to Increase High School Completion A Community Guide Systematic Health Equity Review" Annual Review of Public Health, "The Relationship between Education and Health: Reducing Disparities through a Contextual Approach" Center for Disease Control and Prevention, "CDC's Health Literacy Action Plan" Encyclopedia.com, Social Health Epilepsy Foundation, "Importance of Taking Medication on Schedule" Future Child, "Young Adults and Higher Education: Barriers and Breakthroughs to Success" Health Affairs, "Paid Family Leave Policies And Population Health" Health Affairs, "The Public Health Workforce" Healthy People 2020, "Social Determinants of Health" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, "Education as a Social Determinant of Health: Issues Facing Indigenous and Visible Minority Students in Postsecondary Education in Western Canada" International Journal of Health Services, "Education Improves Public Health and Promotes Health Equity" Inverse, "Mortality Rate by Education Level: Chart Shows Where People End Up" Medical News Today, "What Is Good Health?" National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Guide to Health Education Careers New York State Department of Health, "Important Things to Know About Landfill Gas" Office of Head Start, Head Start Programs Plan4Health, "Education Is a Social Determinant of Health" The Journal of Nutrition, "Food Insecurity Is Associated with Chronic Disease among Low-Income NHANES Participants" The Nation's Health, "Education Makes Healthy Choices Easier, Beginning Early in Life" The New York Times, "Does Your Education Level Affect Your Health?" The New York Times, "The Lasting Effects of Stop-and-Frisk in Bloomberg's New York"

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Social Determinant of Health: Education Is Crucial

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How is education a social determinant of health? Explore how Tulane University's Master of Public Health prepares graduates to address factors impacting health.

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⭐ SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

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⭐ SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

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"Health care systems provide quality jobs and contribute to broader economic development. Furthermore, a quality health care system promotes trust and respect between health care providers and the community, which is vital for the overall effectiveness of the health care system."

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Sustainable Development Goals - Resource Centre

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Access to health care is a fundamental component in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Health care access is not just about the availability of health facilities, medicines, and qualified health care professionals, but also encompasses affordability, accessibility, and quality of these services. It is intrinsically linked to various other SDGs, reflecting the interconnected nature of health and broader sustainable development. Firstly, the availability of comprehensive, quality health care services is crucial. This includes preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care across all life stages. However, availability alone is insufficient; these services must be accessible physically and financially to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status. This aspect highlights the importance of SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) in achieving health-related goals. Financial barriers, such as high out-of-pocket expenses, can impede access to health services, leading to disparities in health outcomes. Another key factor is the quality of health services. Quality health care should be safe, effective, timely, efficient, equitable, and people-centered. This aligns with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by ensuring that health care systems provide quality jobs and contribute to broader economic development. Furthermore, a quality health care system promotes trust and respect between health care providers and the community, which is vital for the overall effectiveness of the health care system. The relationship between health and education (SDG 4) is also significant. Educated individuals are more likely to understand health information and access health care services. Moreover, education leads to better health outcomes, as educated individuals are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors and seek medical care when necessary. Environmental factors, as addressed in SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action), have a profound impact on health. Clean air, safe drinking water, and nutritious food are essential for good health. Therefore, efforts to improve environmental conditions directly contribute to better health outcomes and vice versa. Additionally, health care access is related to gender equality (SDG 5). Women and girls often face unique health challenges and barriers to accessing health care. Addressing these challenges is essential for achieving gender equality and improving the health and well-being of women and girls.

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Water Access in the United States: Health Disparities Abound and Solutions Are Urgently Needed

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The tragedy in Flint, Michigan, riveted the public health community to the problem of water access, highlighting its pernicious influence on low-income, minority families.1 In this issue of AJPH, Brooks et al. (p. 1387) put numbers on the scope of our nation’s water access problem and highlight that this problem extends beyond Flint.

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The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy

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Healthy Lifestyles | The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy

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Food Assistance Programs Cut (SNAP, Emergency Food Assistance

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How Planned Parenthood’s defunding could leave more than a million patients without health care

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An appeals court has allowed the government to kick Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid for a year, eliminating a crucial source of funding for clinics across the country.

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How Does Energy Poverty Impact Healthcare? → Question

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Energy poverty profoundly impacts healthcare access, quality, and health outcomes through unreliable power, indoor air pollution, and limited access to essential medical technology and supplies. → Question

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⭐ Stakeholders- People In Power: Government Officials

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⭐ Stakeholders- People In Power: Government Officials

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Cutting or Adding Funding

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⭐ Stakeholders: People In Power- Management, "Higher-ups" 

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⭐ Stakeholders: People In Power- Management, "Higher-ups" 

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⭐ Individuals Affected By Stakeholders: 

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⭐ Individuals Affected By Stakeholders: 

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📍SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

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📍SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

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Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure - The Global Goals

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Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

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The scope and impact of mobile health clinics in the United States: a literature review

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As the U.S. healthcare system transforms its care delivery model to increase healthcare accessibility and improve health outcomes, it is undergoing changes in the context of ever-increasing chronic disease burdens and healthcare costs. Many…

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Use policy to target root causes of poor health, such as improving housing, education, and community infrastructure.

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Enable communities to co-design culturally appropriate healthcare solutions that leverage local social networks.

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Change the system's goal from maximizing profit to prioritizing health equity and universal access.

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Implement policies that ensure universal health coverage and align incentives for healthcare workers to serve impoverished communities.

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Ensure transparent data collection on health disparities and make resource information easily accessible to patients in poverty.

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Leverage Points In Addressing This Issue

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Leverage Points In Addressing This Issue