Health Reform — Perspectives

A Prescription for The US Healthcare System: Exploring Policy Interventions Designed to Assist Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) and Populations

The United States, despite its position as the largest economy in the world, is also home to severe and systemic income inequality. In recent decades, average household income has increased across socioeconomic levels, yet the majority of this growth has remained concentrated among the wealthiest. Such economic disparities pervade the daily lives of the most vulnerable, limiting their access to resources such as healthcare and education. In doing so, economic inequality becomes entrenched and cyclical, deteriorating the quality of life for generations. We see the lasting effects of income and resource inequality today, with the prevalence and persistence of medically underserved areas (MUAs) and populations.

Health ReformHHPRApril 6, 2025Comment

National Paid Sick Leave for Equitable Public Health

Due to inequities in access to paid sick leave, presenteeism, the phenomenon where workers show up to work while sick and not fully functioning, has led to significant costs to businesses, workers, and public health. While some businesses, municipalities, and states have implemented paid sick leave, many of the most vulnerable workers have been left behind. Therefore, the United States should adopt a national paid sick leave policy because it would promote economic and health equity while mitigating the costs of presenteeism, thereby benefiting employees, businesses, and the broader community.

Health Reform, PoliticsHHPRApril 6, 2025Comment

A Values-Based Argument for Universal Healthcare in the United States

It is unacceptable that the United States, which prides itself on being a global power and proponent of democracy, deprives its citizens of the access to quality, affordable healthcare that all people deserve. Contrary to frequent arguments that national healthcare systems inherently contravene core American values, I argue that a system of universal healthcare must instead be constructed to fully realize these ideals — principally, innovation, quality, and liberty of choice.

Public Health, Health ReformHHPRMarch 22, 2023health insurance, universal health care, health care, america, politics, quality, innovationComment

A Policy of Diversity and Inclusiveness in Clinical Trials: What it Means for African Americans with Cancer

African Americans with cancer face many challenges to their care. Clinical trials can offer these patients life-saving options, and their participation can provide researchers and clinicians with a better understanding of their disease and treatment strategies. However, Black patients only represent 5 percent of trial participants despite making up 15 percent of cancer patients. More needs to be done to connect them to current scientific studies. A diverse and inclusive policy strategy for recruiting these patients can lead to higher rates of enrollment in clinical trials and better overall outcomes.

Health ReformHHPRFebruary 24, 2023diveristy, african americans, clinical trials, cancer, health insurance, health careComment