A recent study has uncovered a troubling trend in the U.S. healthcare system: preventative care services, meant to be free under the Affordable Care Act, are costing patients of color millions of dollars. The research, published in JAMA Network, reveals significant disparities in how these services are provided and billed across racial and ethnic lines.
Black patients were found to be 50% more likely than their white counterparts to be denied a free caregiver visit. Even more alarming, Asian and Hispanic patients faced denial rates twice as high as white patients. These denials often result in out-of-pocket expenses for services that should be covered by law.
The study, which analyzed over 1.5 million patient records, highlighted that these disparities persisted even after adjusting for factors such as patient geography, service type, and insurer. Low-income patients and those without college degrees were also more likely to have their insurance claims denied for supposedly free care.
Preventative screenings are crucial for early detection of diseases like cancer and diabetes, which disproportionately affect Black Americans. With Black individuals having the second-lowest life expectancy among all racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., these barriers to preventative care could exacerbate existing health inequities.
The researchers emphasize that these denied claims and incorrect billings disproportionately affect at-risk populations, including racial and ethnic minorities. This pattern not only contradicts the intent of the Affordable Care Act but also threatens to widen the already significant health gap between Black and white Americans.
As the healthcare system grapples with these findings, addressing these disparities in preventative care access and billing practices becomes crucial for achieving equitable health outcomes across all communities.
See “When ‘Free’ Health Care Services Cost Patients Millions” (October 3, 2024)
