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KGISL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(AFFILIATED TO ANNA UNIVERSITY)
Saravanampatti, Coimbatore – 641035
HUMAN VALUES AND ETHICS -GE3791
ASSIGNMENT
TITLE : FAIRNESS IN HEALTHCARE -

ACCESS FOR EVERYONE
Submitted by:
NAME : VARSHA D S
ROLL NO : 21ECB56
FAIRNESS IN HEALTHCARE -ACCESS
FOR EVERYONE
INTRODUCTION:
Fairness in healthcare access, also known as healthcare
equity, is about ensuring that all people, regardless of their
background, socio-economic status, race, gender, location, or
other factors, can access the healthcare services they need to
achieve good health. It involves creating systems that promote
justice and equality within healthcare, addressing the various
social, economic, and structural barriers that can lead to disparities
in health outcomes.
In the U.S., research has consistently shown that Black and
Hispanic populations face greater healthcare access challenges
than White populations. These communities have higher rates of
chronic diseases, limited access to preventive care, and worse
health outcomes. Barriers include a lack of insurance, geographic
limitations, and systemic discrimination within healthcare
settings.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) indicates that Black Americans experience
disproportionately high rates of chronic conditions like
hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. Similar disparities exist
among Hispanic communities. Despite these higher health risks,
members of these communities are less likely to have access to
regular healthcare.
OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY :
OBJECTIVES:
1. Expand Affordable Healthcare Coverage: Increase access
to health insurance coverage, making it affordable and
accessible for low-income individuals and underserved
populations. Aim to reduce the number of uninsured
individuals, particularly within minority and marginalized
communities.
2. Eliminate Geographic Barriers to Care: Ensure that rural,
remote, and urban underserved areas have adequate
healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals, clinics, and
telemedicine services, to provide accessible healthcare to all
regions.
3. Reduce Systemic Bias in Healthcare: Address implicit bias
and discrimination within healthcare systems by training
providers in cultural competency, promoting patient-
centered care, and implementing policies that prevent
discrimination based on race, gender, socioeconomic status,
or other factors.
4. Address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH):
Integrate initiatives that focus on social determinants like
housing, nutrition, education, and transportation,
recognizing that these factors significantly affect health
outcomes and access to healthcare.
5. Promote Preventive and Primary Care Access: Increase
accessibility to preventive care services, such as screenings,
vaccinations, and health education, which help in early
detection and reduce the long-term burden of chronic
diseases.
6. Empower Communities through Health Education:
Provide health education and resources to empower
communities to make informed health decisions, understand
preventive care’s importance, and navigate healthcare
systems effectively.
METHODOLOGY:
Data Collection and Analysis:
• Use quantitative data from healthcare records, census data,
and public health surveys to identify disparities in healthcare
access by geography, race, income, and other factors.
• Collect qualitative data through interviews and surveys to
understand barriers faced by specific communities, including
trust issues, language barriers, and provider shortages.
Policy Analysis and Advocacy:
• Evaluate current healthcare policies to identify gaps that
contribute to disparities and advocate for policy changes that
address those gaps, such as Medicaid expansion, subsidies for
low-income individuals, and support for telehealth
infrastructure.
• Engage with policymakers to develop legislation focused on
health equity and reducing healthcare costs.
Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA):
• Conduct CHNAs in communities with high rates of unmet
health needs to identify specific barriers and resources. This
involves working with community leaders, local health
departments, and non-profits.
• Use findings to tailor healthcare access initiatives that
address local barriers, such as funding for mobile clinics in
rural areas or urban health centers.
Training and Development Programs for Providers:
• Implement cultural competency training for healthcare
professionals to reduce implicit bias, promote understanding
of diverse patient backgrounds, and improve patient-provider
communication.
• Develop ongoing education programs to reinforce equitable
practices and foster inclusivity within healthcare settings.
Establishment of Community-Based Health Centers:
• Invest in federally funded and community-based health
centers that offer low-cost or free services in underserved
areas.
• Develop mobile clinics and telemedicine programs that
provide outreach and care to individuals who cannot easily
access healthcare facilities.
Case Intervention: The Healthy People 2020 Initiative
To address these issues, the U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services (HHS) launched the Healthy People 2020
initiative. This program targeted reducing healthcare disparities
by focusing on preventive care, improving accessibility, and
expanding insurance coverage.
1. Affordable Care Act (ACA): The ACA expanded Medicaid,
which provided millions of uninsured individuals, especially
those from minority communities, with access to health
insurance. This increased the number of people able to access
preventive care, screenings, and chronic disease
management.
2. Community Health Centers: The program invested in
federally funded health centers in underserved areas. These
centers offer low-cost or free services, creating access points
in areas lacking healthcare infrastructure.
3. Health Equity Training for Providers: Healthy People
2020 emphasized cultural competency training for healthcare
providers. This training aimed to help providers understand
and address implicit biases, communicate more effectively
with diverse patients, and provide respectful, individualized
care.
4. Telehealth Expansion: Recognizing the geographical
barriers faced by many rural and urban patients, the initiative
promoted telemedicine to expand access. Telehealth allows
individuals in remote locations to access consultations and
follow-ups without the need for transportation to distant
facilities.
5. Community Engagement and Education: The program
launched outreach initiatives to educate individuals about
preventive care, how to navigate the healthcare system, and
the importance of seeking early care for chronic conditions.
Results and Outcomes
By 2020, Healthy People 2020 had led to notable improvements
in healthcare access for minority populations, though challenges
remained. Positive outcomes included:
• Increased Insurance Coverage: The ACA's Medicaid
expansion resulted in a 13% decrease in uninsured rates
among Black and Hispanic populations.
• Increased Use of Preventive Services: Community health
centers saw a significant increase in patient visits, particularly
for preventive services such as cancer screenings,
vaccinations, and diabetes management.
• Improved Health Outcomes: Chronic disease outcomes
improved in communities with access to these centers, with
documented reductions in hospitalizations for conditions like
asthma and hypertension.
• Reduced Health Disparities in Some Areas: Though health
disparities remain, there was some narrowing of the gap,
especially in areas with targeted resources and improved
access to preventive services.
Limitations and Challenges
Despite the program’s progress, several obstacles persisted:
1. Uninsured Rates in Non-Expansion States: Some states
opted not to expand Medicaid, leaving significant gaps in
insurance coverage, particularly affecting minorities in those
states.
2. Ongoing Provider Shortages: Despite investments, provider
shortages in some rural and underserved urban areas
persisted.
3. Systemic Racism and Bias: While bias training helped,
systemic discrimination in healthcare requires more
extensive, structural changes to fully address.
Lessons Learned
The Healthy People 2020 initiative demonstrated that achieving
fairness in healthcare access is possible but requires sustained
efforts, comprehensive policy changes, and collaboration with
communities. Key takeaways include:
• Policy Change is Essential: Expanding coverage through
policies like the ACA can have immediate impacts on access
and equity.
• Community-Centered Approaches Work: Federally
funded health centers, when embedded in communities, are
highly effective at improving access and building trust.
• Continued Focus on Cultural Competency: Training
providers to understand diverse communities’ unique needs
is vital for delivering equitable care.
Conclusion
Achieving fairness in healthcare access is a multifaceted and

ongoing process. By setting clear objectives and utilizing a range
of methodologies, it’s possible to reduce healthcare disparities
and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve optimal
health. This requires a commitment to long-term policy change,
community engagement, data-driven interventions, and ongoing
evaluation to ensure that equity remains a central goal.
The methodologies for addressing healthcare inequities, such as

data collection, community-based participatory research, policy
reform, and targeted intervention, highlight the importance of
both evidence-based strategies and community involvement.
Health equity is not only a matter of policy but also a matter of
partnership—collaborations across government, private, and
nonprofit sectors, along with input from communities themselves,
are critical to driving sustainable change.
Ultimately, working toward fairness in healthcare access means
continually assessing and adapting healthcare policies, striving to
reach those who have been left out, and prioritizing healthcare as
a fundamental right. By fostering an environment where
everyone has equal access to the care they need, societies can
achieve better overall health outcomes, reduce economic strain,
and build a more resilient, inclusive healthcare system.

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KGISL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

(AFFILIATED TO ANNA UNIVERSITY)

Saravanampatti, Coimbatore – 641035

HUMAN VALUES AND ETHICS -GE3791

TITLE : FAIRNESS IN HEALTHCARE -

Case Intervention: The Healthy People 2020 Initiative

To address these issues, the U.S. Department of Health and

Achieving fairness in healthcare access is a multifaceted and

The methodologies for addressing healthcare inequities, such as

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