Dear John,

Join us tomorrow, February 26, for our Journal Club event featuring a closer look at a new Health Affairs research article, “Housing-Sensitive Health Conditions Can Predict Poor Quality Housing,” that was published in our theme issue focusing on housing and health.

Author Daniel Neill of New York University and Health Affairs Senior Editor Laura Tollen will participate in a detailed discussion of the paper’s data, methods, and policy implications.

Celebrating Black History Month

For the month of February, we are recognizing Black History Month.

Throughout this month, we have been highlighting influential Black voices and organizations who have made an impact on health equity and policy.

Take a moment to look back at a number of featured articles.

In a January 2024 article, Ashley N. Kyalwazi and coauthors discuss the Medicare Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program and how it has disproportionately penalized resource-constrained hospitals caring for high proportions of Black adults since its implementation.

From our October 2023 theme issue on Tackling Structural Racism in Health, Zachary Dyer and coauthors discuss the Structural Racism Effect Index, which measures exposure to structural racism effects in nine domains. Dyer also shared greater insight on his findings when he appeared on A Health Podyssey.

The same theme issue also featured a Narrative Matters essay where Alexis Grant-Panting reflects on why Black women like her have come to fear their birth experiences.

Health Affairs Deputy Editor and Correspondent Jessica Bylander reported on how some communities are working to shift the balance of power and succeeding in improving their health.

In a May 2023 article, Andrew Anderson and coauthors shed light on the opportunity cost of not addressing disparities when developing cardiovascular disease health care policies.

Sign up for our newsletters to never miss our Elevating Voices series as well as monthly observances of cultural and community celebrations in the health policy world.

Health Affairs Branded Post:

Navigating Medicare Drug Price Negotiation in Oncology: The Need for Real-World Evidence

Harlan Pittel et al.

Sponsored by Flatiron Health

Health Affairs' Editor-in-Chief Alan Weil interviews Sandra Newman of the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health on her recent paper that explores the measurable health and related benefits of housing vouchers to families. The benefits observed included parental stress reduction, improved cost burdens, neighborhood safety, and many other impacts.

Value-Based Payment Models Can Improve Appropriate And Equitable Use Of Prescription Drugs

Christina Bush et al.

March-In Guidance For Publicly Funded Drugs: A Necessary Safety Net For Patients

Jerry Avorn and Aaron S. Kesselheim

Addressing The Obesity Epidemic Will Require Prevention And Treatment Working Together

Karen Hacker et al.

CMS’s 2024 Physician Fee Schedule: A Catalyst For Integrated, Whole-Person Care And Improved Health

Elisa Fisher et al.

Using Law To Advance Population Health Planning

Ashwin Vasan et al.

Protecting Black Maternal Health And Improving Workforce Diversity After The End Of Affirmative Action

Jessica McCann et al.

Accelerating The Exchange Of Health And Human Services Data To Improve Outcomes And Disrupt Inequities

Marko Mijic and Micky Tripathi

CMS Proposes Significant Policy Changes To Improve Care For Dually Eligible Individuals

Michael Monson and Sarah Barth

Will CMS’s Proposed Rule Promote Integrated Care For Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries?

Jose F. Figueroa et al.