Building An Equitable Health Care Delivery System: Considerations For State And Federal Policymakers
Health disparities persist in the United States, with disadvantaged groups disproportionately bearing the burden of poor health outcomes and shortened lifespans. States cannot effectively control healthcare costs or improve quality without addressing health disparities. Fortunately, state and federal policymakers can work together to build an equitable health care delivery system by aligning payment models, creating new partnerships, and building infrastructure and data systems to reduce health disparities.
This brief reflects on a discussion of health equity held at a meeting of state and federal leaders convened by the National Academy for State Health Policy with the support of The Commonwealth Fund. Included in the brief are highlights of several states’ efforts to promote health equity, including New York, Ohio, and Louisiana.
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
