When the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion went into effect in 2014, it dramatically increased the number of insured Washingtonians. Yet low-income folks, especially people of color and immigrants, continue to struggle more than white Americans in accessing health care. Crosscut examines the barriers to access and how local community groups are working to overcome them.
"Patrick" is one of the thousands of Washington children and young adults who experience homelessness soon after exiting psychiatric and substance use disorder treatment. Through trial and tribulation, "Patrick" attempts to navigate the labyrinth of treatment, services and setbacks in search of the stability he needs to regain his footing.
After the resurgence of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, many declared racism a public health crisis. So what exactly does that mean? Scientists now say that, in addition to socioeconomic factors, the constant stress of racism slowly takes a toll on a cellular level. And that can explain some of the pandemic-related health care disparities in our community.
Medical research in the U.S. has a dark history, particularly when it comes to the Black community. This has led many in communities of color to distrust the institution of medicine. Across the nation, 60% of Americans as a whole said they will get a COVID-19 vaccine. But, among Black people, that number drops to 42%, compared with 83% of Asians, 63% of Latinx, and 61% of white adults, according to the Pew Research Center. Crosscut investigates what that means for research and treatment, and why representation matters when it comes to clinical studies.
Diversity at U.S. medical schools has barely inched forward in the past 40 years, and underrepresented students still face countless barriers to getting a medical degree. Crosscut investigates the roadblocks to access, progress and what Washington schools are trying to do about it.
Dr. Danielson speaks on his decision to step down from leading the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, and shares his perspective on the fight against systemic racism.
Outgoing Seattle Schools Superintendent Denise Juneau speaks on the phased return to the classroom for students and the transition of leadership to a new Superintendent in June.
In Washington state, as with much of the country, physician demographics don't reflect the communities they serve, which leads to worse outcomes for patients. Unfortunately, at the rate things are progressing, experts say we may never have a physician pool truly representative of the general population.
Asian Americans are perceived as the "model minority": wealthier, better educated and healthier than other minority groups. But this preconception hides many health disparities, in some cases worse than those of any other racial group.
Washington mandates language-access services for patients who speak limited English, but lack of oversight means many fall through the cracks. A growing immigrant population means that these services are more crucial than ever.