Health Equity and Access Weekly Roundup: January 6, 2023

New Study Reveals Global Disparities in Access to Multiple Myeloma Cell Therapies

The 65th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition featured a study revealing disparities in the global accessibility of B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)–directed therapies for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. The study, conducted with 176 hematologists/oncologists from diverse centers worldwide, found limited access to chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies such as idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) and ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel), along with the BCMA-directed T-cell-engager teclistamab. Financial burdens were cited as a major barrier, with only 9% of countries globally having access to these therapies.

Community and Connection Drive UPMC Health Plan’s Multifaceted Success

In a September interview with The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®), 4 individuals associated with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Health Plan discussed their roles in advancing health equity in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland. The interview highlighted efforts in optimizing member outcomes, quality of life, and community support through Medicaid offerings, health care equity, integrated care, and collaboration initiatives. Topics covered included diverse community needs, integrating health care services, Medicaid redeterminations, dispelling myths about Medicaid coverage, and witnessing changes in access to health care services over the years.

Health Plan Design: Employers as the Architects of Health Equity

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of employers playing a pivotal role in advancing health equity through equitable health plans. Bruce Sherman, MD, medical director of North Carolina Business Coalition on Health and adjunct professor in the Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, emphasized the importance of providing affordable health care and stable employment, addressing the barriers of complexity and expense. Mercer, a health equity consulting group, advocates for education, data harvesting, and targeted interventions.

To Improve Health, Improve Food-as-Medicine Programs

A randomized clinical trial involving 349 participants with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and food insecurity found that a clinic-based food-as-medicine program did not improve glycemic control. Participants received curated healthy meals, diabetes education, and coaching for a year, but both the immediate-treatment and waitlist control groups showed significant hemoglobin A_1c reductions at 6 months with no significant differences between them. The study suggested the program's failure may be due to the obstacle of meal preparation.

Dr Charlotte Owens Discusses Industry Contributions to Maternal Health

In an interview with AJMC, Charlotte Owens, MD, FACOG, of Organon, explained the pharmaceutical and health care industry's crucial role in addressing rising maternal morbidity. She highlighted the potential contributions, including increasing awareness of social determinants, investing in maternal health solutions, and expanding access to innovative therapies. Owens discussed preventable pregnancy-related deaths and advocated for industry collaboration to address challenges like the underrepresentation of pregnant and lactating women in clinical trials.