Health Equity Action Brief: Geographic Inequality

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.

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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.