Health Equity Action Brief: Geographic Inequality

Topic(s):

Quality of Care , Health Disparities , Managed Care Practice Issues

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