Health Equity Action Brief: Geographic Inequality

AMCP Geographic Inequality Health Equity Action Brief

The Health Equity Action Brief on Geographic Inequality highlights a concerning trend of widening geographic inequality over the past four decades and what managed care can do to address these potential policy biases.

CHALLENGE: Expanding Access 
OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Encouraging existing pharmacies to expand their operations into underserved areas. 
  • Promoting mechanisms to make it easier for pharmacies to meet community needs. 
  • Providing public-private partnerships to help individuals and communities navigate the pharmacy process and improve their health outcomes.

CHALLENGE: Reimbursement Increase 
OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Increasing reimbursement for pharmacies located in underserved areas from Medicaid and Medicare Part D. 
  • This provision would address the financial pressures that pharmacies face, leading to closures and reduced access to essential medications and pharmacy services for residents. 
  • Advocate for value-based care models that support reimbursement of pharmacist-integrative services, especially within regions affected by geography disparities.

CHALLENGE: Funding Support 
OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Supporting funding for new pharmacy construction in underserved areas. 
  • Aims to address the need for more access to essential medications and pharmacy services in these areas by increasing the number of pharmacies available to residents. 
  • Support HEOR research, especially within areas affected by geography disparities, to support the development of reimbursement models.

Download the Brief 

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