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Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
In this project, RAND Corporation researchers identified existing health equity measurement approaches that might fit with Medicare’s VBP programs, quality reporting efforts, and confidential reports. The project had two objectives: identify health equity measurement approaches, and decide which of these approaches merit consideration for inclusion in Medicare’s VBP programs, quality reporting efforts, and confidential reports. This report describes the methods and findings of the project and delineates potential first steps for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to consider as it continues to evaluate the prospect of incorporating health equity measures and domains in Medicare’s VBP and reporting programs.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
This article discusses the current trends for collecting race/ethnicity data and other social determinants of health, which evolved from the 1978 Office of Management and Budget directive “Race and Ethnic Standards for Federal Statistics and Administrative Reporting.” The article comments on the inability of the current system to capture the nuance necessary to depict and address health inequities within the United States, and advocates for the immediate adoption of collecting primary/preferred language and country of birth/origin to capture more complete data on individuals.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
A mini-review that summarizes lessons learned from HIV among pregnant women and LGBTQI+ communities. The recommendations include: 1) de-stigmatization, 2) decentralized care, 3)contact-tracing and follow up, 4) use of technology/mobile/digital tools, 5) develop mechanisms to combine routine management of other diseases and COVID-19, and 6) community-specific interventions.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
In an effort to help build the evidence base around social determinants of health (SDOH), the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) engaged RAND in a project to evaluate the current evidence from programs and policies targeting SDOH and identify research questions, data sources, and data gaps. RAND used a multi-methods approach that included an environmental scan of the published and gray literature of SDOH interventions; key informant interviews with subject matter experts; and a convening of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies and operating divisions to review the results of the environmental scan and offer insights on findings.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
This systematic review examines COVID-19 literature on infections, hospitalizations, or deaths by race and ethnicity in the United States. Results found that Black and Hispanic populations experience higher rates of COVID-19 infection and COVID-19 related mortality, but similar rates of case fatality.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
This article discusses incorporating geographic information science and technology (GIS&T) into COVID-19 pandemic surveillance, modeling, and response. Applications include: 1) developing spatial data infrastructures for surveillance and data-sharing; 2) incorporating mobility data in infectious disease forecasting; 3) using geospatial technologies for digital contact tracing; 4) integrating geographic data into COVID-19 modeling; 5) investigating geographic social vulnerabilities and disparities; and 6) communicating the status of the disease or status of facilities for return-to-normal operations.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Summary Report/Recommendations, Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
This report discusses a scoping review conducted to identify social determinants of health (SDOH) that are risk factors for, or associated with outcomes of, COVID-19, and to understand the definitions, characteristics, and measures of SDOH data elements as they were used in studies analyzing statistical associations with the risk for COVID-19 infection and COVID-19-related outcomes in the United States. The granular evidence provided by the scoping review findings calls for the standardization of SDOH data across health care, public health, and research.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
This article discusses use of digital contract tracing applications in France during the COVID-19 pandemic. While these apps have been created to help mitigate spread of COVID-19 by offering health advice on isolation and testing, they are not being used by the majority of the population. In May 2020, the COVID-19 Control and Society Connection Council (CLL) was established to issue advice and guidance on the national epidemic digital systems. This paper illustrates the recommendations by this committee for the improvement of these applications.
Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
This study uses data from the COVID Tracking Project’s Racial Data Tracker, which aggregates state-level COVID-19 reporting and tracking databases to determine racial/ethnic trends of COVID-19 incidence and evaluate the racial/ethnic distribution of COVID-19 related mortality in the US. Results found that disparities are more apparent at the county and city level, and discusses the importance of transparent, local data in order to allow for greater precision in resource allocation and effective policy changes aimed at reducing disparities. The study includes choropleth maps of the results by state.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
Researchers, journalists, public health officials, and policymakers can take a few important steps to address insufficient contextualization when documenting COVID-19 racial disparities, especially in the public sphere. This article reviews those steps and ways to contextualize COVID-19 racial disparities data with adequate analysis. Disparity figures without explanatory context can perpetuate harmful myths and misunderstandings that actually undermine the goal of eliminating health inequities.