Access Weekly

• New data highlight how structural racism, policy, and pricing continue to drive racial and ethnic disparities in U.S. healthcare access and outcomes. • Sickle cell disease (SCD), which primarily affects non-Hispanic Black or African American individuals, remains a critical focus as it can shorten life expectancy by approximately 20 years. • Treatment options have evolved from the 1994 approval of hydroxyurea to include newer medications like voxelotor and crizanlizumab, culminating in the 2023 approval of gene therapies.

• A recent health equity roundup highlights critical gaps in US healthcare, noting that nonmetropolitan areas have 44.4% fewer patient-facing workers per 10,000 residents than urban centers. • Data from the 2019-2023 American Community Survey reveals a stark imbalance: rural areas house 13.8% of the population but only 8.4% of the healthcare workforce. • Experts emphasize that meeting the WHO goal of reducing hepatitis B mortality by 65% requires increased investment in vaccinations, screenings, and stigma reduction.

• Federal initiatives have expanded a drug-price transparency tool and proposed a $50 per month access plan for eligible Medicare beneficiaries using GLP-1 medications. • The new pricing proposal is scheduled to take effect in July 2026, though debates continue regarding actual savings and remaining affordability gaps. • The weekly roundup also highlights critical health equity issues, including cancer trauma, abortion cost disparities, and the economic impact of food insecurity.

• The April 24, 2026, Health Equity & Access roundup highlighted critical systemic inequities, specifically focusing on Black maternal mortality, youth impact of the 988 crisis line, and gaps in food assistance. • Medical panelists advocated for universal biomarker testing in lung cancer and the expanded use of minimal residual disease testing to improve diagnostic workflows and patient outcomes. • Experts identified significant barriers to care, including reimbursement gaps, limited access to advanced CAR T-cell therapies, and social determinants of health that hinder treatment.

• Recent health reports highlight critical gaps in private equity oversight, climate-related health disparities, and uneven access to genomic testing. • Data shows that two-sided risk Medicare Advantage arrangements correlate with fewer hospital admissions and emergency department visits, particularly in high-Social Vulnerability Index communities. • New Jersey is expanding its oncology ecosystem by increasing community-proximal access to CAR T-cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, and clinical trials.