This week the Fierce newsroom took the day off to honor Juneteenth. So we've selected a few favorite segments from the fall of 2022 to replay in this week's episode.

The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to long-standing health inequities. Data show that Hispanic and Black people are about twice as likely to die from COVID-19 as their white counterparts . This is because of structural inequalities, racial bias or inequitable access to healthcare. Oftentimes, healthcare resources are inadequate in Black neighborhoods because of a history of redlining and other discriminatory practices. As the healthcare industry continues to adjust to a new, post-COVID-19 normal, there has been significant momentum behind addressing health equity challenges. With this backdrop, Humana, one of the country’s largest insurers, hired its first chief health equity officer in 2021: J. Nwando Olayiwola, M.D. Fierce Healthcare senior editor Paige Minemyer talks with Olayiwola about health equity and whether there is a risk the momentum around this issue could slow.  

Also under discussion are social determinants of health. Believe it or not, they drive up to 70% of health outcomes. Last year, the Physicians Foundation published a comprehensive framework for addressing social determinants. They proposed quality measures to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which were approved in August, becoming the first time social drivers are recognized in federal payment programs. Fierce's Anastassia Gliadkovskaya speaks with Gary Price, president of the Physicians Foundation.

To learn more about topics in this episode: 

• CMS approves first measures to track social determinants at federal level 
• Most doctors have patients affected by social drivers but feel ill-equipped to address them, survey finds 
• Industry widely sees equity as important, but lacks concrete steps to address it, survey finds 
• New legislation calls on CMMI to create model based on health equity 
• Fierce Health Payer Summit
• ViVE 2022: How UnitedHealth, Humana are thinking about 'techquity'
• Fierce Healthcare's 2021 Most Influential Minority Executives in Healthcare
• Humana study highlights prevalence of social needs in MA before COVID
• Chutes & Ladders—Humana names first chief health equity officer; Providence promotes execs in integration strategy
• AHIP 2022: How payers could lead the charge in addressing health equity

"Podnosis" is produced by senior multimedia producer Teresa Carey. The stories are by all our “Fierce” journalists. Like and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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