Philanthropy’s Role in Equitable Medi-Cal Expansion
California has more people enrolled in Medicaid than any other state—almost 15 million of 93 million enrollees nationwide, and the state’s efforts to equitably address the enrollment churn make it worth watching. When the pause on Medicaid redeterminations ended in April, up to 3 million Medi-Cal enrollees, California’s program, were at risk of losing coverage. Most at risk are those often eligible but inconsistently enrolled in Medi-Cal—if at all. Many of these individuals are from poorly served communities who often experience longstanding discrimination in accessing health care. They commonly live in extremely rural areas and lack access to the internet and transportation; have unstable housing; are reluctant to enroll due to their immigration status; and have limited English proficiency, live with a physical disability, or have behavioral health needs. If Medi-Cal is to be a true driver for health equity, we need to close the enrollment gap in these communities.
Purpose-Driven Investments: Advancing Equity by Diversifying Foundations’ Asset Managers
In 2020, none of the Health Forward Foundation’s assets were managed by Black, Latina, or Latino managers. Struck by that stark reality, Health Forward began the process of diversifying the asset managers in its investment portfolio as part of a larger strategy to align the Foundation’s capital with its purpose.
Exploring the Impact of Vaccine Equity Grants in Rural Communities of Color
The Rx Foundation launched a rapid response Vaccine Equity grant program in March 2021 as it became clear that communities had unequal access to newly available COVID-19 vaccines. The goal was to fund organizations that were positioned to improve access to vaccines for groups marginalized by or unable to access existing systems and to do outreach and have conversations with people about their vaccine concerns and questions.
New York State Foundations Working Together to Preserve Health Insurance Coverage for Millions of New Yorkers
In March 2020, the United States declared a public health emergency and enacted historic COVID-19 relief legislation. It increased Medicaid funding to states contingent on several conditions, including a “continuous enrollment” requirement that prohibited states from terminating Medicaid enrollees’ coverage until after the public health emergency had ended. How well this worked is a rare silver lining of the pandemic: an estimated 20.2 million people gained coverage since March 2020, and the uninsured rate dropped across the country.
PrEP in Black America: A New Approach to Biomedical HIV Prevention Advocacy
In the U.S., Black communities have been disproportionately impacted by HIV. Between 1981 and 2019, an estimated 2.2 million people have been diagnosed with HIV, an overwhelming number of whom have been Black.
The Reimagining Nursing Initiative: Creating an Equitable Future by Investing in Nurse-Driven Solutions
When you think about improving health care, who do you envision leading the charge for a more equitable future? There are no wrong answers, but perhaps one that does not immediately come to mind—nurses. Representing the largest number of providers and serving as the most-trusted health care professionals (Brenan 2023), nurses’ front-line role in patient care makes them a natural force for expanding access to care and reducing health care disparities.
Let’s Close the Gap on Mental Health for Good in 2023
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, a mental health crisis was growing in America, with 1 in 10 adults reporting symptoms of anxiety or depression. Today, that number is 3 in 10. The recently launched 988 hotline—the mental health equivalent and alternative to 911—is a monumental step forward in changing how we acknowledge and respond to mental health needs nationally. It finally puts mental health on equal ground with physical health—a recognition long overdue—but it is only a first step in addressing the multitude of behavioral health needs.
SASH: Health Equity Begins at Home
A decade ago, primary care practices and housing non-profits in Vermont partnered to reduce chronic conditions among older adults and younger adults with a disability in collaboration with the state’s Blueprint for Health. Today, as an extender of the Blueprint, Support and Services at Home (SASH), which supports healthy aging in place, is helping to advance health equity in the state.
The Gun Violence Epidemic: Lessons From Newark, New Jersey
The Newark, New Jersey community has made remarkable progress improving community safety and reducing gun violence. This past June, a seminal report, The Future of Public Safety: Exploring the Power and Possibility of Newark’s Reimagined Public Safety Ecosystem, was released by Equal Justice USA, the City of Newark, and the Newark Community Street Team. Researchers utilized community participatory research to assess Newark’s impactful approaches to improving public safety.
What Can Be Done About Disparities in Birth Outcomes? Follow The BIPOC Leaders
There has long been a movement of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) birth and reproductive justice leaders addressing the impact of racism and oppression on pregnant and birthing people and their families. Their work has galvanized funders and policymakers to focus their efforts on ending the inequities in birth outcomes, opening up a national conversation about advancing community driven solutions to our country’s perinatal health crisis as well as creating opportunity for change within philanthropy.