Chartis, a leading healthcare advisory firm, today released a new brief, “The 2024 health equity regulatory landscape across states.” The report analyzes four years of data from state departments of health and legislatures, examining how states have expanded efforts to advance health equity through legislative efforts, including Medicaid programs and requirements.
The report shows that states are leveraging four key mechanisms to close the health equity gap: legislation; state requests for proposals and managed care organization Medicaid contracts; 1115 demonstration waiver programs; and other state guidance and requirements that focus on health outcomes, improving quality of care, and investments in advancing health equity.
“Disparities in healthcare access and in health outcomes remain one of the most pervasive problems facing the healthcare industry,” said report co-author Shaifali Ray, Partner and Vice President, Chartis Center for Health Equity & Belonging. “Our analysis identified that as states implemented legislation to help close these gaps, it underscored the importance of health plans and providers addressing health inequities in partnership with each other, community-based organizations, and other key community stakeholders.
Key findings from the analysis include:
- More than 170 bills and resolutions with health equity provisions have been enacted since 2020, with 37 enacted since January 2023. Several have appropriated funding.
- Nearly half of states now have 1115 pilot projects that include health equity goals (20 states and Washington, DC). Waivers in 9 states come with funding opportunities in support of programs and initiatives that address social drivers of health.
- Nearly all (49 of 50 states) have active guidance requiring health equity/HRSN assessment and screening.
The report provides guidance for how all health plans can drive lasting advancements for health equity and showcases an example in New York.
To facilitate greater understanding of the legislative landscape, Chartis also updated its health equity statute tracker to include data through September 2024. Health plans and providers may leverage this tool to understand state-level government activity and trends.
To view the full report, click here.
About Chartis
The challenges facing US healthcare are longstanding and all too familiar. We are Chartis, and we believe in better. We work with more than 900 clients annually to develop and activate transformative strategies, operating models, and organizational enterprises that make US healthcare more affordable, accessible, safe, and human. With more than 1,000 professionals, we help providers, payers, technology innovators, retail companies, and investors create and embrace solutions that tangibly and materially reshape healthcare for the better. Our family of brands—Chartis, Jarrard, Greeley, and HealthScape Advisors—is 100% focused on healthcare and each has a longstanding commitment to helping transform healthcare in big and small ways. Learn more.
