Centene, one of the nation’s largest insurance and managed care companies, has teamed up with the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) to launch a research partnership that will dive into the impacts of COVID-19 on minorities.
The partnership comes at a time when the healthcare community is still learning about COVID-19 and how different demographics are affected. Namely, early data suggests some population are more vulnerable to the virus than others. One study from APM Research Lab found African Americans are dying at a three times higher rate from the virus compare to white Americans. COVID-19 cases are also skewed, with racial minorities experiencing higher rates of the illness.
NMQF is an independent research and educational organization dedicate on ensuring high-risk racial and ethnic populations receive optimal healthcare. The research, called the Minority and Rural Health Coronavirus Study, will focus on the risk factors associated with the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on racial minorities and rural communities.
"The pandemic has shined a bright light on what we have known for decades: throughout our nation's history, racial minorities have experienced reduced access to healthcare, higher rates of chronic conditions and, ultimately, higher rates of mortality across a range of health conditions," Gary Puckrein, president and CEO of NMQF, said in a statement. "With so many minority populations serving in essential roles on the front lines of this pandemic, we have an urgent need to provide them with accessible, equitable healthcare."
The research begins in June and brings along other healthcare companies, including Quest Diagnostics, which will conduct COVID-19 PCR testing and antibody testing at federally qualified health centers in five states. Centene and NMQF assembled a research team from across healthcare providers. A cohort of 5,000 racial and ethnic minority participants will be involved in the study over a course of five years to examine the impact of COVID-19 on them and their families.
Those with positive COVID-19 test results will receive monitoring kits and a daily call from providers for the first two weeks, with once-a-week calls to follow for the next month.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."