A new study reveals that Black and Latino family doctors play a crucial role in providing healthcare for marginalized communities, potentially helping to reduce health disparities in the United States. The research, published in the Annals of Family Medicine, found that these physicians are more likely to accept Medicaid patients and practice in underserved areas compared to their white or Asian counterparts.
Lead investigator Anushree Vichare from George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health emphasized the significance of this finding. “Our research suggests Black and Latino family medicine doctors play a crucial role in providing health care for people living in marginalized communities,” she stated.
The study analyzed national claims data to assess the likelihood of doctors from different backgrounds accepting Medicaid patients. This is particularly important as Medicaid, the federal/state health insurance program for the poor, often has lower payment rates than private insurance, leading some doctors to opt out.
Vichare highlighted the need to increase diversity in the medical field, stating, “We must redouble our efforts to increase the number of Black and Latinos going into medical school, as well as develop strategies that would help others who are underrepresented in the physician workforce enter the profession and thrive.”
The findings support previous research indicating that minority doctors are more likely to return to communities of color to establish their practices. This trend could help address the chronic disease burden in these communities, which have traditionally had less access to healthcare.
Vichare concluded by emphasizing the broader implications of the research, “Building a more diverse and representative health workforce leads to better healthcare for all and is also imperative from a social justice standpoint.”
See “Black, Hispanic Doctors See Much Larger Proportion of Medicaid Patients” (September 17, 2024)
