Latino and Black family medicine physicians are notably more inclined to engage with the Medicaid program and treat a larger volume of Medicaid patients when compared to their White and Asian counterparts, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at George Washington University.
The findings align with previous research indicating that minority physicians are more likely to return to communities of color and establish their practices there. Individuals residing in these areas often face above-average rates of chronic health issues and have historically encountered barriers to healthcare access.
“Our research indicates that Black and Latino family medicine doctors are essential in providing healthcare to people in marginalized communities,” stated Anushree Vichare, the lead author and a researcher at the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. “It is crucial that we enhance efforts to increase the enrollment of Black and Latino students in medical schools and to create strategies that support other underrepresented groups in entering and succeeding in the medical profession.”
Vichare and her team explored the role of Black and Latino family medicine doctors in caring for the Medicaid population by connecting physician demographics to national claims data. The study investigates various characteristics of family physicians and their practices that have not been thoroughly explored by other researchers.
The findings indicate that, even after adjusting for numerous factors, the race and ethnicity of physicians are linked to their participation levels in the Medicaid program. Medicaid serves as the federal and state health insurance initiative for low-income individuals. Some doctors opt out of this program or choose not to see Medicaid patients due to the significantly lower reimbursement rates compared to private insurance and numerous administrative hurdles that are often cited as obstacles to participation, according to Vichare.
In order to address health disparities, it is essential for communities of color to have access to healthcare, and this study illustrates that a more diverse family physician workforce could facilitate this objective, she commented.
“Creating a more diverse and representative healthcare workforce enhances care for everyone and is crucial from a social justice perspective,” Vichare emphasized. “As a society, we need to ensure that individuals underrepresented in medicine have equitable opportunities to pursue medical education. It’s also vital to cultivate an inclusive environment within healthcare organizations that appreciates diversity and supports the retention and professional development of diverse staff.”
