Which strategy is recommended to adjust for race/ethnicity and socioeconomic position in healthcare?

Adjusting payment methods is a key strategy for addressing healthcare disparities related to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. This approach can help ensure that healthcare providers are incentivized to deliver equitable care to all patients, regardless of their backgrounds. By reforming payment systems, healthcare organizations can prioritize equitable distribution of resources, ensuring that underrepresented and underserved populations receive necessary attention and care.

Moreover, adjusting payment methods can lead to the creation of value-based care models, where providers are rewarded for achieving better health outcomes for all patients rather than simply increasing volume or services. This not only incentivizes equal treatment but also encourages hospitals and clinics to focus on strategies that effectively close gaps in care among different racial and socioeconomic groups.

In contrast, increasing healthcare costs, ignoring current disparities, or limiting access to Medicaid would further entrench the existing inequities within the healthcare system. Such actions could disproportionately impact marginalized communities, exacerbating health disparities rather than addressing them.