Study Examines How Race Factors Into Medicare Advantage Enrollment

Modern Healthcare: Black, Dual-Eligible Enrollment In Medicare Advantage Rises
Medicare Advantage enrollment among Black people, dual-eligibles, and those residing in the most disadvantaged areas outpaced growth of white and non-dual eligibles from 2009 through 2018, according to a Health Affairs study published Tuesday. While their enrollment in MA plans climbed, beneficiaries in these groups also tended to have lower quality options from which to choose. Assuming the enrollment trend continues, the study predicted that the majority of Black, Hispanic, and dual enrollees will be in a Medicare Advantage plan, as opposed to Medicare fee-for-service, over the next five years. The majority of all Medicare beneficiaries are expected to be in Medicare Advantage within the next 10 years, according to 2020 estimates by the Congressional Budget Office. While this trend corresponds with broader changes in demographics and geographic distribution, the study suggests policymakers look into solutions to the disproportionate coverage. (Gellman, 6/8)

Philadelphia Inquirer: Racial Equity Is Essential To Hospital Quality And Some In Philly Are Falling Short, New Report Says
The coronavirus pandemic and unrest following the death of George Floyd were painful reminders of deep racial inequality in the U.S. health care system and renewed calls for change. Hospitals, the epicenter of pandemic response in many communities, have responded with a range of initiatives, many of which began years ago: Bias training for doctors and executives, accelerated hiring plans to diversify care teams, outreach programs to forge stronger connections with underserved communities. But whether any of it will mean better care for people of color, improve patient trust or reduce racism in the health system is an open question. (Gantz, 6/8)

Modern Healthcare: UnitedHealth Group Names New Chief Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Officer
UnitedHealth Group announced on Tuesday that Joy Fitzgerald will serve as the healthcare giant's new Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. Fitzgerald joins the Minnetonka, Minn.-based company from Eli Lilly, where she most recently served as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. Fitzgerald also served as chief diversity officer for Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based, aerospace company, Rockwell Collins, where she held other leadership roles focused on learning and organizational development. (Tepper, 6/8)

In other health care industry news —

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Feds Fine Centennial Hills Hospital For Dodging Overtime Rules
Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center has been fined $19,090 for failing to pay employees all the hours they worked and “willfully” manipulating time cards to avoid paying overtime, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Tuesday. The hospital in the northwest Las Vegas Valley paid $145,402 in back wages to 23 employees following an investigation from the labor department’s wage and hour division. The investigation concluded that the hospital violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by requiring employees to fill out necessary paperwork after clocking out. (Miranda, 6/8)

North Carolina Health News: Proposed Bills Would Bump Up Pay For People Caring For NC’s Most Vulnerable
In 2004, two weeks after her high school graduation, Brittany Stone was driving to pick up her younger sister from vacation Bible school during a storm. She hit a pothole and lost control of her vehicle. In the accident, she suffered a traumatic brain injury. Seventeen years later, Stone has landed a place at Whittecar Group Home in Raleigh, where she and five other residents get the help they need to live their lives. For the most part residents at the group home can take care of their basic needs, but Stone, for example, has trouble washing her back and hair because of tremors. She uses a walker to get around, but she does chores around the house. She can’t drive or run to the store independently. The people who help the six residents live their lives start at a salary of $11.50 an hour. (Dougani, 6/9)

AP: Library Of Congress Gets Health Workers' Audio COVID Diaries
The Library of Congress has acquired a digital archive of the real-time impressions of more than 200 frontline health care workers documenting the country’s descent into the coronavirus pandemic. Calvin Lambert, a fetal medicine fellow in a Bronx hospital, recalls how a Black pregnant woman who came in for a checkup “became irate and became scared” even when he attempted to give her a COVID-19 test. She thought the nasal swab itself would give her the virus. (6/8)

Health News Florida: Twitter Suspends Account Of Former Florida Data Analyst Rebekah Jones 
Twitter has suspended the account of former Department of Health COVID-19 data analyst Rebekah Jones. In email correspondence with WFSU, Jones says she posted a Miami Herald article, "a few dozen times too many and got auto-flagged for spam." According to a screen capture provided by Jones, Twitter stated the company had suspended her account due to violating rules against platform manipulation and spam. (Gaffney, 6/8)