- Research published in JAMA Network Open found that the disproportionate share hospital (DSH) program is failing to equitably support hospitals in areas with historically underserved Black communities. According to the researcher’s analysis, counties with greater proportions of Black residents had significantly higher rates of uncompensated hospital care and a greater percentage of uninsured residents compared to other counties with acute care hospitals that received the same amount in DSH payments per resident. Compared to their DSH payment peers, those disproportionately Black counties also had significantly higher rates of premature mortality and a greater percentage of residents who reported poor or fair health. The authors concluded that “by relying on measures of patient characteristics that reflect health care use, (the DSH program) may structurally disadvantage communities that most require resources to improve population health.” (Research letter here)
November 11, 2022
Inequities and SDOH