Health Equity & Access Weekly Roundup: September 7, 2024

The Feasibility and Equity of Text Messaging to Determine Patient Eligibility for Lung Cancer Screening

A new study explored the feasibility of using text messaging to determine lung cancer screening (LCS) eligibility by assessing people's willingness to disclose their tobacco use history through this medium. A cross-sectional survey of 745 respondents revealed that 90% used text messaging regularly, and 83% were likely to respond to text message inquiries about smoking status. Middle-aged respondents, those with college education, and those with higher incomes were more willing to report smoking status via text. However, groups such as older adults, those with lower incomes, or those without college education were less inclined to participate. While text messaging shows promise for reaching LCS-eligible individuals, a multimodal approach is essential to ensure equitable identification across all sociodemographic groups.

When Is a Network Adequate? Consumer Perspectives on Network Adequacy Definitions

In the first study to assess consumer preferences for various definitions of network adequacy, researchers found that consumers overwhelmingly support traditional measures of network adequacy. The definition of network adequacy included those aimed at supporting health equity and reducing disparities. Through a survey of over 4,000 U.S. adults, the measures favored were traditional, such as the number of providers and travel distance, but more expansive definitions, including access to public transportation, cultural competency, and LGBT+ inclusive care were also prominent. Support for these broader definitions is influenced by factors like gender, education, health status, and recent healthcare experiences. The results suggest that consumers have a broad conception of network adequacy, encouraging regulators to consider more expansive definitions.

Combatting the Opioid Epidemic: Insights From the Front Lines

In this Managed Care Cast episode celebrating National Recovery Month, Michael Lynch, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and an attending emergency physician and medical toxicologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, discusses the complexities surrounding opioid overdoses. He explores substances beyond fentanyl contributing to high rates of opioid use disorder and delves into the potential factors behind Pennsylvania's alarming drug overdose mortality rate, which ranked fourth in the US in 2022.

Improving HIV Outcomes Through Medicaid Expansion

Emmanuel Nazaire Essam, MD, MPH, has dedicated his career to improving access to HIV care in underserved populations, beginning in rural Cameroon and now as a research coordinator at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. At the 2024 International AIDS Conference, he presented findings from his study on the impact of Medicaid expansion on HIV outcomes in Nebraska, showing that Medicaid enrollment improved HIV viral suppression rates and overall access to care. Essam emphasized the importance of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, the Affordable Care Act, and Medicaid expansion in enhancing care for marginalized populations while highlighting ongoing barriers such as stigma, limited access to specialized care, and socioeconomic factors.