Dear John,

ICYMI, Micah Hartman and colleagues at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), including the National Health Expenditure Accounts Team, released their 2022 health care spending report. 

Philadelphia’s Response to Afghan Evacuees During Pandemic

In a Narrative Matters article in the December issue of Health Affairs, Cheryl Bettigole, health commissioner of the city of Philadelphia, and coauthors document Philadelphia’s response to Afghan evacuees who arrived in the city following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 (“Operation Allies Welcome”).

The authors describe their creation of a triage clinic at the Philadelphia International Airport and collaboration between government agencies, organizations like the Red Cross, Philadelphia community members, and medical and public health staff from across the city.

Evacuees were welcomed with snacks, toys, and welcome signs in multiple languages; interpreters were available to help facilitate COVID-19 testing, optional vaccinations, and other medical care and screening processes.  

The authors conclude that the US should offer immigrants more compassionate, evidence-based, culturally sensitive care that treats immigrants and refugees as “potential new Americans” and not as vectors of disease. 

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Advancing Community Health Worker Models In Health System Reforms: Policy Recommendations From The RADx-UP Initiative

Ethan Phillips et al.

National Health Expenditures: Reading Past The Headlines

David M. Cutler

ICYMI, we announced the continuation of our Forefront series "Accountable Care For Population Health."

Due to the ongoing support from Arnold Ventures, we are able to reissue our call for submissions for this series. We will accept submissions through December 2024.

With this in mind, let's take a look back at the series, which has featured policy analysis, proposals, and commentary that will inform policies on the state and federal levels to understand and advance models for accountable care.

• Embedding Equity In Financial Benchmarks: Changes To The Health Equity Benchmark Adjustment (September 2023)
• The Area Deprivation Index Is The Most Scientifically Validated Social Exposome Tool Available For Policies Advancing Health Equity (July 2023)
• Explaining Corporate America’s Aggressive Investment In Primary Care (April 2023)

Next week, join us for the following event:

• December 19: Journal Club: “Substantial Disparities In COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake And Unmet Immunization Demand In Low- And Middle-Income Countries”

Download America's Health Rankings' 2023 Annual Report

A new report from America’s Health Rankings found that rates of eight chronic conditions have reached the highest levels in the report’s history. Learn more about this trend and others revealed by the data. 

Sponsored by United Health Foundation