Key Findings
The burden of health care affordability issues was greater for Black residents than for White residents, including higher levels of medical debt.
Lower-income families were more likely to report an unmet need for health care due to cost than residents at higher income levels.
Residents in Western Massachusetts and on the Cape and Islands had the highest rates of difficulties enrolling as a new patient, and along with residents in South Coast, have the highest rates of ED visits per capita.
Recommended screenings for colorectal cancer were lower among Hispanic, Black, and Asian patients compared with non-Hispanic and White patients, illustrating inequities in preventive care.
Additional Information
While Massachusetts reports near-universal health care coverage statewide, gaps in access to and use of health care services persist among residents of different races, ethnicities, and geographic regions, among other characteristics. Additionally, rising health care costs impact the affordability and utilization of health care services, which can make it even harder for historically marginalized communities to access care.
Metrics are grouped into 6 domains:
- Coverage—metrics focused on health insurance enrollment and coverage
- Access—metrics focused on availability of and access to health care services
- Utilization—metrics focused on use of health care services
- Affordability—metrics focused on cost of health care services for residents
- Finance—metrics focused on spending on health care services by payers and providers
- Quality—metrics focused on standards and/or value of health care services
Previous Publications
Recommended Links
Equity in Quality of Care and Patient Experiences
Analyses of quality and patient experience measures across Massachusetts providers, with findings by race, ethnicity, and payer.
Total Medical Expense (TME) Trends Across MA Communities
Explore CHIA's analysis of total medical expense trends across Massachusetts communities, including regional variation in health care spending per person.
Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey (MHIS)
Analyses from CHIA's statewide resident survey on insurance coverage, access to care, affordability, and health care experiences.