AHIP has submitted a comment letter to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), responding to its request for comments on a draft report entitled, “Achieving Health Equity in Preventive Services.”
The AHRQ draft report concludes that, in populations adversely affected by disparities, evidence is strongest for: (1) patient navigation services to increase colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening; (2) telephone calls and prompts to increase colorectal cancer screening; and (3) reminders that include lay health workers encouraging breast cancer screening.
Our letter emphasizes that health insurance providers recognize these are valuable strategies to reduce disparities across preventive care and that they are continuing to implement innovative ways to engage all consumers to get preventive care. To illustrate our industry’s leadership, we provide several examples of how AHIP members are employing case managers, nurses, care coordinators, and community health workers to promote preventive care in populations that may have lower screening rates. Our letter also highlights our recent launch of Project Link to convene health insurance providers to address social barriers to health and promote long-term well-being.