AGENCY TESTIMONY
Racial segregation in NYC's healthcare system
0:22:03
·
60 sec
Dr. Morse describes the stark racial segregation in New York City's healthcare market and its implications for hospital closures and health inequities. She explains how this segregation is maintained and perpetuated by current healthcare practices.
- Highlights that NYC is one of the most racially segregated healthcare markets in the United States
- Explains how public and private safety net hospitals disproportionately care for low-wealth, Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities
- Discusses how healthcare reimbursement systems incentivize providers to prioritize commercially insured patients over those who are uninsured or underinsured
- Emphasizes how power inequities make it easier to close hospitals serving marginalized communities, as their voices and healthcare needs are more likely to be ignored
Dr. Michelle Morse
0:22:03
As I testified last year, New York City is one of the most racially segregated health care markets in the United States.
0:22:10
Many New Yorkers know this from experience.
0:22:13
Our public and private safety net hospitals and facilities care for more of the city's low wealth, black indigenous and people of color communities.
0:22:22
Racial segregation in healthcare is in part maintained by healthcare reimbursement systems that directly incentivize healthcare providers to deliver care to those who can pay more.
0:22:35
Our healthcare system routinely prioritizes those who can pay more and those who are commercially insured at the direct expense of those who pay less such as those who do not have health insurance.
0:22:47
The power inequities that result means that it is often easier to close a hospital if the people who use that hospital are not considered important.
0:22:58
Their voices are more likely to be ignored, and their healthcare needs are more likely to be sidelined.
