The issue of health disparities remains a critical one for American society despite decades of research and various programs intended to tackle it. Differences in the level of provided care lead to an overall reduction in life quality and significant economic impacts. They are caused by multiple factors ranging from high-level social and populational inequalities to individual perceptions and stereotypes. Understanding the primary causes of this issue and available approaches to its solution is critical for achieving the required system enhancements.
The factors leading to the existing health disparities have been a subject of many theoretical studies. The most popular explanation is related to the current system of medical aid and its inherent problems. Researchers indicate that “lack of access to health care and failure to receive timely care are major contributors” (Wasserman et al., 2019, p. S64). Moreover, such inequality often leads to many people unwilling to apply for the treatment due to financial considerations. In addition, it has been found that lack of proper education, inequalities in housing, and employment issues notably affect the health of large population groups (Thornton et al., 2016). Finally, recent studies indicate the influence of stigma and stereotypes as an unfavorable factor. Patients from minority groups are often less engaged in clinical decisions about their treatments and available options. Besides, they are likely to “decline recommended services, adhere poorly to treatment regimens, and delay seeking care” (Wasserman et al., 2019, p. S67). Combined, these explanations provide the framework for possible approaches to reducing health disparities.
Like most social issues, the improvement of health care largely depends on the distribution of funding provided by the state. The existing theoretical approaches to this issue are based on the potentially conflicting goals of social adequacy and equity. The former means “assisting people based on their actual needs,” while the latter pays more attention to what people are able to put into the system (Popple & Leighninger, 2019, p. 145). In general, the moral aspects related to viewing health as an ultimate value require the adequacy approach to be used. This means significant involvement of social workers in developing overall policies and performing on-site activities. They should include increasing the care providers’ awareness of critical social factors, adjusting the available resources based on community needs, and promoting enhanced care for vulnerable groups (Wehrman & McClain, 2009). These approaches constitute the foundation for the more detailed actions intended to resolve the issue.
Based on the general concepts stated above, various specific measures have been developed. One of the programs currently implemented within the Social Security System is Medicare, targeted at older people, who are among the most vulnerable groups in terms of health care (United States Social Security Administration, 2019). Although it allows reducing the treatment costs for many patients, this system is not entirely successful, since it covers only a limited amount of expenses. Increasing its scope would require allocating additional funds through tax increases or redistributing assets by changing the available benefits or raising the eligibility age (Congressional Budget Office, 2015). Another promising direction is applying a patient-centered medical home model, which aims to provide comprehensive, patient-centered, coordinated care with reduced costs (Wasserman et al., 2019). Finally, the introduction of new payment models motivating providers to identify and treat diseases among minority and non-insured groups could be a useful tool (DeMeester et al., 2017). Together, the currently implemented measures and new suggested approaches are a reliable way to increase the overall care level.
As mentioned above, the issue of health disparities is a complex one requiring the consideration of various aspects. The studies previously conducted identified that their causes are substantially related to the overall income inequalities. Approaches to their resolution and determination of the proper balance between people’s needs and the available state resources shape the image of the social security system. Therefore, finding an adequate approach to tackle health disparities is a critical task intended to ensure everyone’s well-being.
References
Congressional Budget Office. (2015). Social Security policy options.
DeMeester, R. H., Xu, L. J., Nocon, R. S., Cook, S. C., Ducas, A. M., & Chin, M. H. (2017). Solving disparities through payment and delivery system reform: A program to achieve health equity. Health Affairs, 36(6), 1133-1139.
Murray, T. (2018). Overview and summary: Addressing social determinants of health: Progress and opportunities. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(3), 17-23. Web.
Popple, P. R., & Leighninger, L. (2019). The policy-based profession: An introduction to social welfare policy analysis for social workers (7th ed.). Pearson Education.
United States Social Security Administration. (2019). Medicare.
Wasserman, J., Palmer, R. C., Gomez, M. M., Berzon, R., Ibrahim, S. A., & Ayanian, J. Z. (2017). Advancing health services research to eliminate health care disparities. American Journal of Public Health, 109(S1), S64-S69.
Wehrmann, K. C., & McClain, A. (Eds.). (2018). Social work speaks. NASW Press.