Health equity proponents are buzzing over the latest issue of Health Affairs that explores the complex relationship between racism and health disparities. It emphasizes that health disparities are not necessarily inherent to racial differences per se, but contrarily result from systemic factors rooted in social, economic, and political structures that continue structural racism. This issue received support from prominent organizations, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation, and the Episcopal Health Foundation.
One significant study featured in this issue reveals that Medicaid expansion has a profound impact in communities historically subjected to residential redlining. States that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act witnessed an average 6.2 percentage-point reduction in the uninsured population in heavily redlined census tracts, underscoring the role of structural racism in health insurance disparities.
Another study found that states with laws that sustain structural racism, such as those allowing corporal punishment in schools and imposing voting identification requirements, have higher premature mortality rates. This study highlights the lasting effects of past discriminatory laws and the need to reshape current policies to combat structural racism.
The issue also discusses the crucial role of community health workers (CHWs) who, while uniquely positioned to address social determinants of health, face their own challenges and hazards, including personal experiences of food insecurity, housing instability, and racism.
Lastly, the power of organizing within marginalized communities is examined, particularly regarding housing inequities. The analysis underscores how collective action can empower tenants to combat systemic racism in housing and create healthier living environments, emphasizing the importance of supporting these efforts through policy changes and resources.
