Health Equity - California Health Care Foundation

Health Equity
All Californians should have the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential for health. CHCF is working with a wide range of partners to remove structural barriers to care and build a just and equitable health care system that is designed to redress, not perpetuate, the inequities that too many of our fellow Californians face.

Learn about CHCF’s approach to building health equity in California

California Lacks Black Doctors. Here’s How the State Can Add More

November 2, 2022

Health Equity, Workforce

Many Black Californians say they have been treated unfairly or felt disrespected by a health care provider because of their race or ethnicity. A recent CHCF study found that increasing the number of Black doctors is the best solution.

Helping Californians Dial In to Equitable Health Access

October 11, 2022

Telehealth, Health Equity

A conversation with telehealth policy expert Mei Wa Kwong of the Center for Connected Health Policy.

Birth Equity

Health Equity, Maternal Health

Improving Birth Equity in California’s Health Care System is a quality-improvement initiative designed to improve birth care, experiences, and outcomes for, by, and with Black mothers and birthing people in California.

Advancing Latino/x Health Equity

The California Health Care Foundation is focused on advancing policies and practices that will improve timely access to high-quality primary, specialty, and mental health care for Latino/x Californians and eliminate avoidable differences in health outcomes.

Listening to Black Californians: How the Health Care System Undermines Their Pursuit of Good Health

Linda Cummings, PhD

To identify solutions for dismantling persistent health inequities among Black Californians, CHCF commissioned a study that listens deeply to Black Californians talking about their experiences with racism and health care. This report summarizes in-depth interviews with 100 Black Californians and 18 focus groups, as well as a statewide survey of 3,325 adult Black Californians.

Tech Accelerators Open Doors for Health Care Entrepreneurs of Color

September 22, 2022

Barbara Feder Ostrov

Investing in Innovation, Health Equity

The CHCF Innovation Fund supports tech accelerators to bolster companies with the potential to significantly lower health costs or improve access to care for Californians with low incomes.

Advancing Health Equity: A Recommended Health Equity Framework for Accountability in Medicaid

National Committee for Quality Assurance

Health Equity, Medi-Cal

With support from CHCF, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) developed a health equity measurement framework that state Medicaid programs can use to measure accountability in health plan managed care contracting.

Six Things to Watch For Now That Medi-Cal Has Picked Commercial Managed Care Plans

September 8, 2022

Christopher Perrone

Health Equity, Medi-Cal

Continued investment and sound implementation will lead to higher quality care for millions of Medi-Cal enrollees — and progress toward reducing racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes.

Ensuring Equity in Telehealth

August 29, 2022

Health Equity, Telehealth

Telehealth could extend care to millions of underserved people — but only if they can access it.

Identifying and Understanding Ways to Address the Impact of Racism on Patient Safety in Health Care Settings

RAND Corporation

This study from RAND Corporation and MedStar Health Research Institute examined the intersection of patient safety and racism with a focus on clinician leaders’ perspectives.

Without Trust, There Is Nothing

David E. Thigpen

Black Californians say they see provider relationships as the key to good health care.

Joyce Lashof, First Female Dean of UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Dies at 96

An early champion of community health centers and health equity, Lashof achieved a series of firsts during her long career.

Celebrating the Expansion of Medi-Cal

Sandra R. Hernández

Expanding Health Coverage, Health Equity, Medi-Cal

CHCF's president and CEO explains how state leaders have brought us a step closer to justice and equity in health care.

New Technology Is Transforming Care in California’s Safety Net

Silvina Martinez

Telehealth, Behavioral Health, Health Equity

Federally Qualified Health Centers in California overcame language barriers, uneven digital access, and workflow changes to increase telehealth visits for primary care from 2% of visits to 61% during the pandemic.

The Prognosis for Telehealth

Telehealth, Health Equity, Medi-Cal

The future of primary care could be a hybrid model of in-person and telehealth care, including both phone and video visits.