Are health care providers who serve historically marginalized populations paid less?

Health disparities are a widespread issue in the United States, particularly along racial and ethnic lines. Studies have highlighted various factors contributing to these disparities, such as differences in access to healthcare and social determinants like housing, safety, and food security. However, the role of how healthcare services are financed and the structural payment inequities in the healthcare system have not been thoroughly explored.

This report aims to address this gap by examining how payment variation among healthcare providers contributes to disparities in healthcare. Specifically, the report looks at whether providers who primarily serve historically marginalized populations, including Black, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander individuals, receive lower payments for the same services compared to those who serve predominantly White populations. The report also investigates whether these payment discrepancies are solely driven by the payer mix, given that historically marginalized populations are often covered by lower-paying public payers like Medicaid, or if differences exist within payer types.

For further insights and to read the full report, download the document.