Achieving health equity demands a systemic transformation of the healthcare system. Policies and practices must be examined through an equity lens to detect and address disparate impacts.
A critical area in need of reform is healthcare payment. To advance health equity in primary care, substantial changes are necessary in payment models and investment levels. Specifically, transitioning from fee-for-service paradigms to value-based arrangements is crucial for establishing primary care as a more equitable service.
Health equity efforts also entail intentional actions to eliminate access barriers and allocate resources based on need. To this end, integrated care plays a crucial role in improving access to behavioral health services, fostering engagement in care, and reducing stigma. This is particularly critical for marginalized populations, where integration serves as a key strategy for addressing health disparities stemming from factors such as race, ethnicity, sexual and gender diversity, and geographic location.
Psychologists play pivotal roles in advocating for these systemic changes and others to ensure the integration of health equity into healthcare systems. Serving as educators, consultants, and policy influencers, psychologists champion and lead system transformations, dismantling inequities, and embedding health equity into the fabric of healthcare organizations.