Addressing Health Equity Through Data Solutions: Bridging the Gap in Healthcare
Health equity has continued to be a primary focus as the healthcare industry confronts long-standing systemic inequities that have long compromised the health and well-being of millions of Americans. While healthcare stakeholders, from providers and payers to life sciences companies, are committed to addressing these disparities, determining where and how to intervene remains a complex challenge.
A critical factor in achieving health equity is addressing social determinants of health (SDOH)—the conditions in which people live, work and play, along with broader economic and social systems that shape those conditions.1 Medical care accounts for only 20% of patient outcomes; the remaining 80% is driven by behavioral, social, environmental and economic factors.2 By identifying and addressing these SDOH barriers, healthcare organizations can take proactive steps to ensure equitable care and better health outcomes.
SDOH and Chronic Disease Management
Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD), disproportionately affect marginalized populations, including people of color and those in low-income areas.5 These diseases account for 7 in 10 deaths in the U.S. and $3.8 trillion in healthcare spending annually.6 The burden of these diseases worsened in the wake of care disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Diabetes, in particular, poses an urgent challenge. It affects 1 in 10 Americans, and more than 1 in 3 Americans have prediabetes. Black and Hispanic/Latino adults are more impacted by type 2 diabetes, with increasing incidence rates across racial and ethnic minority groups.7 This growing challenge highlights the need for interventions that address the root causes of health inequities, including SDOH.
Barriers to Care: The SDOH Challenge
Despite growing awareness of the impact of SDOH barriers, stakeholders face significant challenges in addressing these factors. Payers often lack systematic ways to identify members facing social barriers to care, and providers may not have the tools or workflows to address these barriers effectively. Additionally, life sciences companies struggle to engage diverse patient populations in clinical trials, resulting in treatments not representative of all demographics.
The challenges are significant. Individual-level solutions take time to reach the right patients while planning large-scale interventions can be difficult. As a result, many patients face obstacles throughout their healthcare journey, from access to care to medication adherence. Issues such as food insecurity, housing instability and lack of transportation can further complicate disease management, especially for individuals with chronic conditions.11
Data-Driven Solutions for Health Equity
The key to overcoming these challenges lies in data. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, data enables stakeholders to identify individuals who benefit from targeted interventions.3 Comprehensive data sets—including socioeconomic information and social interactions—allow for a more complete understanding of patients' barriers to care, enabling more effective interventions.
One promising initiative is Healthy People 2030, led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This program aims to improve health outcomes by addressing SDOH and prioritizing chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.4 By uniting stakeholders around a common goal, Healthy People 2030 shifts the focus from reactive care to proactive, preventive measures that target SDOH.
Case Study: Diabetes and SDOH Interventions
Diabetes outcomes depend on regular interactions with the healthcare system, from routine screenings to medication access. However, individuals facing social barriers often struggle to access these resources, leading to poor disease management and a higher likelihood of complications.
For example, food insecurity—closely tied to income and geographic location—significantly impacts diabetes management. People with diabetes in food-insecure households are more likely to skip meals or consume high-sodium, calorie-dense foods, which worsen their condition.17 Programs like Geisinger Health System’s Fresh Food Farmacy, which provides patients with healthy food options and care team support, have demonstrated the potential of targeted interventions to empower patients.
The Path Forward: Scaling SDOH Solutions
To address health inequities, stakeholders must scale successful interventions to reach the populations most in need. Data-driven insights can help identify high-risk individuals and guide targeted interventions that improve health outcomes on a broader scale.
The journey toward health equity is complex, but with the right data, technology and strategic interventions, healthcare stakeholders can make meaningful progress in closing the health equity gap and improve outcomes.
Want to learn more?Download the full whitepaper from LexisNexis® Risk Solutions to explore in-depth strategies for addressing SDOH barriers and improving health equity across the patient journey.
**Refer to the white paper for the complete list of citations and sources.
LexisNexis® Risk Solutions has launched an innovative new podcast that aims to tackle some of healthcare's most pressing challenges through the lens of data patterns and patient journeys.
Healthcare DataWake explores how consumers create "data wakes" as they navigate through the choppy waters of the American healthcare system – both as they enter (bow wake) and exit (stern wake)– and how understanding these patterns could transform healthcare delivery and outcomes.
"Healthcare is broken, and certain populations are feeling the failure harder than others," says Adam Mariano, President and GM of Healthcare at LexisNexis® Risk Solutions. The podcast sets out to examine how recognizing patterns within patients' data wakes can unlock more equitable access, drive operational efficiency, and ultimately deliver better health outcomes for all.
Episode 1: Is Patient-Friendly Data Security Possible?
The inaugural episode, "A Balancing Act – Protecting Your Healthcare Data Without Limiting Your Access," dives into the complex world of healthcare data ownership and security. With Mariano joined by Flavio Villanustre, Chief Information Security Officer at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, the episode explores a critical modern healthcare challenge: how to protect sensitive patient data while ensuring seamless access for those who need it.
The discussion comes at a crucial time, as healthcare organizations face unprecedented cybersecurity threats. According to industry-cited data discussed in the episode, more than 400 organizations reported breaches affecting nearly 60 million identities in 2024 alone. Cyberattacks on healthcare organizations are estimated to have jumped nearly 54% since 2020. Cybersecurity attacks in healthcare cost an average of $9.77 million per breach.
Yet simultaneously, patients increasingly expect the same seamless digital experience from healthcare providers that they receive from online retailers.
The episode examines how regulations like the 21st Century Cures Act have transformed data ownership, putting more control in patients' hands. Villanustre and Mariano explore the "magical" aspect of data portability – allowing patients to move between providers without friction – while also addressing the security challenges this creates.
A key focus of the discussion is how healthcare organizations can implement effective security measures without creating barriers to access, particularly for vulnerable populations. The experts discuss advanced identity verification technologies that can provide security behind the scenes while maintaining a smooth user experience for patients accessing their health information through digital portals and apps.
Listen to Healthcare DataWake Now
Healthcare DataWake promises to continue exploring crucial industry topics in future episodes, bringing together thought leaders, observers, champions, and those directly impacted by healthcare challenges. The podcast will tackle issues including health equity, data portability, health literacy, equitable care, and clinical trial diversity, all through the lens of data patterns and their potential to drive meaningful change.
The podcast's unique approach – examining the data "wakes" left by patient interactions – offers a fresh perspective on healthcare's persistent challenges. Just as a boat's wake shifts with currents, winds, and speeds, people's healthcare data wakes also change constantly. Understanding these patterns could be key to maximizing data's value in healthcare delivery.
Through expert discussions and powerful personal stories, Healthcare DataWake aims to move beyond surface-level conversations about healthcare inequities to uncover actionable insights that can drive real change.
Ready to dive into these important healthcare discussions? Listen to the first episode of Healthcare DataWake and future installments here.
The Healthcare DataWake podcast is presented by LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a leader in providing differentiated datasets and technologies that help healthcare organizations solve previously intractable problems and improve health outcomes.
Addressing Health Equity Through Data Solutions: Bridging the Gap in Healthcare
Health equity has continued to be a primary focus as the healthcare industry confronts long-standing systemic inequities that have long compromised the health and well-being of millions of Americans. While healthcare stakeholders, from providers and payers to life sciences companies, are committed to addressing these disparities, determining where and how to intervene remains a complex challenge.
A critical factor in achieving health equity is addressing social determinants of health (SDOH)—the conditions in which people live, work and play, along with broader economic and social systems that shape those conditions.1 Medical care accounts for only 20% of patient outcomes; the remaining 80% is driven by behavioral, social, environmental and economic factors.2 By identifying and addressing these SDOH barriers, healthcare organizations can take proactive steps to ensure equitable care and better health outcomes.
SDOH and Chronic Disease Management
Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD), disproportionately affect marginalized populations, including people of color and those in low-income areas.5 These diseases account for 7 in 10 deaths in the U.S. and $3.8 trillion in healthcare spending annually.6 The burden of these diseases worsened in the wake of care disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Diabetes, in particular, poses an urgent challenge. It affects 1 in 10 Americans, and more than 1 in 3 Americans have prediabetes. Black and Hispanic/Latino adults are more impacted by type 2 diabetes, with increasing incidence rates across racial and ethnic minority groups.7 This growing challenge highlights the need for interventions that address the root causes of health inequities, including SDOH.
Barriers to Care: The SDOH Challenge
Despite growing awareness of the impact of SDOH barriers, stakeholders face significant challenges in addressing these factors. Payers often lack systematic ways to identify members facing social barriers to care, and providers may not have the tools or workflows to address these barriers effectively. Additionally, life sciences companies struggle to engage diverse patient populations in clinical trials, resulting in treatments not representative of all demographics.
The challenges are significant. Individual-level solutions take time to reach the right patients while planning large-scale interventions can be difficult. As a result, many patients face obstacles throughout their healthcare journey, from access to care to medication adherence. Issues such as food insecurity, housing instability and lack of transportation can further complicate disease management, especially for individuals with chronic conditions.11
Data-Driven Solutions for Health Equity
The key to overcoming these challenges lies in data. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, data enables stakeholders to identify individuals who benefit from targeted interventions.3 Comprehensive data sets—including socioeconomic information and social interactions—allow for a more complete understanding of patients' barriers to care, enabling more effective interventions.
One promising initiative is Healthy People 2030, led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This program aims to improve health outcomes by addressing SDOH and prioritizing chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.4 By uniting stakeholders around a common goal, Healthy People 2030 shifts the focus from reactive care to proactive, preventive measures that target SDOH.
Case Study: Diabetes and SDOH Interventions
Diabetes outcomes depend on regular interactions with the healthcare system, from routine screenings to medication access. However, individuals facing social barriers often struggle to access these resources, leading to poor disease management and a higher likelihood of complications.
For example, food insecurity—closely tied to income and geographic location—significantly impacts diabetes management. People with diabetes in food-insecure households are more likely to skip meals or consume high-sodium, calorie-dense foods, which worsen their condition.17 Programs like Geisinger Health System’s Fresh Food Farmacy, which provides patients with healthy food options and care team support, have demonstrated the potential of targeted interventions to empower patients.
The Path Forward: Scaling SDOH Solutions
To address health inequities, stakeholders must scale successful interventions to reach the populations most in need. Data-driven insights can help identify high-risk individuals and guide targeted interventions that improve health outcomes on a broader scale.
The journey toward health equity is complex, but with the right data, technology and strategic interventions, healthcare stakeholders can make meaningful progress in closing the health equity gap and improve outcomes.
Want to learn more?Download the full whitepaper from LexisNexis® Risk Solutions to explore in-depth strategies for addressing SDOH barriers and improving health equity across the patient journey.
**Refer to the white paper for the complete list of citations and sources.
