Access to Healthcare in the Black Belt Region of the USA

Abstract

Even though the United States is highly developed, it lacks a universal healthcare system, leading to unequal access and health outcomes. These gaps are noticeable in marginalized areas like the Black Belt region, where the lack of hospitals nearby worsen current issues. This research include two separate studies addressing these disparities. The first study assessed healthcare accessibility within a 35-minute drive in Lamar, Lowndes, Perry, and Pickens Counties, revealing that 65%, 40%, 44%, and 33% of the populations, respectively, live beyond this range. The second study examined Medicaid expansion’s impact in 2014 and 2020. Using independent and paired samples T-tests, it found statistically significant difference in enrollment rates between states that expanded Medicaid and those that did not. In 2020, states with Medicaid expansion saw a significant rise in enrollment, highlighting its effect. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers to address healthcare disparities.