Racial disparities in health care systems exist in all phases of health care delivery. The Affordable Care Act has been unable to completely mitigate disparities in health care as the root cause (ie, socioeconomic inequality) remains unaddressed. Uninsured status, lack of transportation, high costs, health literacy, provider unavailability, lack of trust in the health system, and implicit bias block minority populations from obtaining deserved quality care. With the COVID-19 crisis, increased sensitivity and development of innovative approaches to provide accessibly and quality health care are necessary.
Keywords: Affordable care act; COVID-19; Health care delivery; Health care disparities; Health care utilization; Racial disparities; Social determinants of health.
Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.