Overview: Black patients were 50% more likely than whites to be denied a free caregiver visit, an issue that can exacerbate poor health outcomes. As a cornerstone of the Affordable Care Act, free health care and screenings are intended to help doctors catch diseases, like diabetes or cancer, in their early stages. The free or low-cost visits not only encourage people to see their caregivers but are key to identifying small changes before they become big issues that are riskier — and more expensive to treat.  In fact, studies have shown that preventative care and early detection visits like those covered under Obamacare can help chip away at disparities in health outcomes between Black and white patients.  But a team of health economists has found that patients of color are spending millions of dollars out of pocket on preventative visits that should be free.  “Even though preventive care is supposed to be free by law for millions of Americans thanks to the Affordable Care Act, many don’t receive recommended preventive services, especially racial and ethnic minorities and other at-risk patient groups,” the researchers say.  The study of more than 1.5 million patients, published last month by JAMA Network, found that patients from at-risk populations — low-income patients, patients who didn’t have a college degree, and patients from racial and ethnic minority groups — were more likely to have their insurance claims denied for the supposed free care than patients with higher income and education.  Many  had to pay out of pocket when insurance companies said their plan didn’t cover the tests. Claims of Black patients had a denial rate of roughly 50% higher than white patients, but Asian and Hispanic patient claims were denied at twice the rate of white patients. These patients also were more likely to wrestle with insurance companies and caregivers over incorrect bills.  Differences across income and race and ethnicity “remained significant even after adjusting for patient geography, service type, and insurer,” according to the study. “[And] services for at-risk patient populations, including contraceptive administration or mental health screenings, were associated with higher denial rates than other preventive services,” the research found.  Preventative screenings are designed to identify potential risk factors or early signs of disease when they are most treatable. Early detection can significantly reduce the risk of complications and improve a patient’s chance for a successful outcome. Key screenings include blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, mammograms, colonoscopies, blood glucose tests, gynecological exams, and prostate exams.  Black Americans have the second lowest life expectancy of all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. They also have disproportionately high rates of life-threatening diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease. As of 2022, the average life expectancy at birth for Black/African Americans was 72.8 years compared to 77.5 years for whites, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. In 2021, the leading causes of death for non-Hispanic Black/African Americans were heart disease, cancer, COVID-19, unintentional injuries, and stroke.  The post When “Free” Healthcare Services Cost Patients Millions of Dollars appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.