Our summary
Racial disparities in cancer care and outcomes remain a societal challenge. The expansion of Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act was intended to improve health care access and equity. This study, which was originally accepted as a 2019 ASCO Plenary Session, found that state Medicaid expansions were associated with a reduction in the Black-White racial disparity in timely treatment of patients diagnosed with advanced cancers.
Why this matters
RWE is a valuable component of clinical development and health technology assessment programs. However, RWE can also be a critical tool to evaluate and shape health policy, by providing insights on the effects of specific policies on the healthcare landscape at large. This study is a prime example of that application, as it relates to the mitigation of racial disparities, one of the most pressing issues facing healthcare delivery in the US today.
