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

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.

Penalizing Abortion Providers Will Have Ripple Effects Across Pregnancy Care

Julia Strasser, Candice Chen, Sara Rosenbaum, Ellen Schenk, Emma Dewhurst

Health Equity, Workforce, Maternal Health

The Supreme Court is moving toward reversing Roe v. Wade and eliminating the federal constitutional right to abortion. This could have immeasurable negative effects on pregnant people and families, including the loss of access to necessary treatment associated with miscarriage.

A Toolkit to Advance Racial Health Equity in Primary Care Improvement

This CIN toolkit offers concrete, practical approaches and resources to help health care organizations — including those that provide, pay for, or support primary care — to increase quality improvement efforts that center racial health equity. Case studies provide insights into how organizations have implemented improvements.

Cultivating Outcomes Through Equity in Behavioral Telehealth

Behavioral Health, Telehealth, Health Equity

In this 18-month initiative, participants are working to improve their behavioral telehealth practices so that patients will have equitable access to high-quality services that promote resilience and emotional well-being.

Provider Shortage Persists While Regulators Consider Implementation of Nurse Practitioner Law

Heather Stringer

Workforce, Medi-Cal, Health Equity

The legislation could increase access to care for many Californians — but not until detailed standards have been adopted through regulations or changes in state law.

California Medicine Scholars Program Prepares to Take Flight

Anne Sunderland

Health Equity, Workforce

The California Medicine Scholars Program plans to shepherd students of color from community college through medical school and beyond.

‘You Want Your Immune System Protecting You and Your Baby’

Xenia Shih Bion

Ob/gyns, a nurse, and a midwife answer FAQs about the COVID-19 vaccine, pregnancy, and fertility.

Data Exchange Is at the Heart of California’s Drive for Health Equity

February 24, 2022

Data Exchange, Health Equity

A new stakeholder agreement on guiding principles lays the groundwork for crucial innovations.

Bridging the Digital Health Divide Series

Courtney R. Lyles, Adrian Aguilera, Oanh Nguyen, Urmimala Sarkar

Health Equity, Investing in Innovation, Telehealth

All patients should benefit from digital health tools regardless of their cultural background, language, income, race, or ethnicity. The two papers in this series focus on how to create equity and inclusion during technology implementation and design to help health care providers, health plans, and developers reach everyone.

Retired California Physicians Return to Practice Medicine in Low-Income Communities

February 14, 2022

Heather Stringer

Workforce, Health Equity

Two programs help experienced MDs ease provider shortages at community clinics.