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Running Head: Discussion Thread
Tonya Wright
BUSI511 Healthcare Administration
Discussion Thread: Cost, Access, and Quality
November 2, 2023
Respectfully submitted to: Brian Grant
Author Note
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Email:
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Discussion Thread
Discussion Thread: Cost, Access, and Quality
One of the vulnerable populations in the United States is the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender (LQBTQ) youth population. “LGBTQ youth often face discrimination from health
care providers and have difficulty finding the care they need, and health care professionals
usually do not have any training on how to care for LGBTQ patients” (Shi & Singh, 2023, p.
260). Hein, et al, (2018) discuss, “… youth are at heightened risk for bullying, victimization,
homelessness, and being subjected to harmful therapies and associated physical and mental
health issues.” The pronounced health disparities within this group are closely linked to
heightened levels of stigma and discrimination stemming from sexual orientation, gender
identity, and gender expression (Hein, et al., 2018). Diana & Esposito (2022) state, “A literature
analysis showed that pediatricians have insufficient knowledge of and comfort with several items
regarding the management of LGBTQ+ youths.”
“National surveys conducted in the United States (US) in 2020 estimated that almost 9%
of adolescents between 13 and 17 years of age recognize themselves to be lesbian, gay or
bisexual, and 0.73% identify as transgender, although a higher prevalence is possible [3].
Regarding the population between ages 9 and 12 years, it has been shown that
approximately 1%–3% identify as gay or lesbian, 3%–5% identify as bisexual, and 1%–
5% are unsure about their sexual orientation” (Diana & Esposito, 2022).
One of the most controversial topics with this population is gender reassignment therapies. These
therapies include hormones and possibly surgery. Diana & Esposito (2022) state:
Currently, gender-affirming interventions in transgender adolescents are conceptualized
in three steps: puberty suppression, gender-affirming hormones and gender-affirming
surgery. Several guidelines are now available and help clinicians in the decision-making
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Discussion Thread
process with a focus on the age at which these young individuals are likely to properly
understand and consent to these treatments.
While many Christians and followers of other faiths have issues with gender reassignment
therapies, we must remember Leviticus 19:18, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge
against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am
the LORD” (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. 2001). We must love these children, let
them know that God loves them no matter what, and try to be supportive.
Another category of individuals who are vulnerable and underserved includes those of Asian
heritage. Asian Americans represent one of the fastest-growing, yet underexplored, populations
in health disparity research (Jang, et al., 2017). One of the major reasons why Asian Americans
are underrepresented is due to the fact that many studies are conducted in English, and there is
limited proficiency among older Asian Americans. “According to the Medical Expenditure Panel
Survey (MEPS), which used English as a primary survey language, Asian Americans have the
lowest rate (2.8%) of unmet healthcare needs (i.e. the proportion of individuals who are unable to
get medical care or were delayed in getting medical care in the past 12 months) of all
racial/ethnic groups” (Jang, et al., 2017). Jang, et al. (2017) discuss this data may be incorrect as
it does not take into account those Asian Americans who did not answer the survey due to not
being able to read English. In the research carried out by Jang, et al. (2017), Asian Americans
were categorized into three groups: low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk. Notably, the high-risk
group comprised one-third of the surveyed population. It was revealed that individuals in the
high-risk group exhibited a demand for insurance, and primary care providers, and had an annual
household income of less than $30,000. Additionally, this group reported experiencing two or
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more chronic diseases (Jang, et al., 2017). One of the major complications with assessing Asian
American health needs is that there are so many different countries and languages spoken among
Asian Americans that sometimes understanding the culture and religion-based decisions can be
difficult. Anand, et al., (2022) state, “… the Asian American population has the greatest income
variance across U.S. racial and ethnic groups, which may impact health outcomes and
inequalities across different Asian American communities.” This group of Americans is one that
needs more studies to determine their needs and health disparities.
The racial/ethnic minority categories in the United States are black, Hispanic, and Asian. Black
and Hispanic patients are more likely to use hospitals over primary care providers (Shi & Singh,
2023, p. 259). Due to many factors, such as being un/underinsured, lack of access to health care
facilities, and financial means to afford care, these racial/ethnic minorities are less likely to seek
care than their Caucasian counterparts. Many of these patients may have a language barrier that
prevents them and their providers from accurately understanding their present health condition
and the issues they are currently having. As health care providers and administrators, we must
strive to understand these groups' health disparities and help alleviate them to the best of our
ability.
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Discussion Thread
References
Anand, S., Cao, E., Kimura, R., Guo, W., Anand, S., Cao, E., Kimura, R., Guo, W., & Bassi, N.
(2023). Asian American Vaccination, Testing, and Other Healthcare Knowledge &
Behaviors during COVID-19, A Systematic Review. Maney
Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1080/20477724.2022.2106110
Diana, P., & Esposito, S. (2022). LGBTQ+ Youth Health: An Unmet Need in
Pediatrics. Children (Basel, Switzerland), 9(7), 1027. doi:
10.3390/children9071027. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9071027
Hein, L. C., Stokes, F., Greenberg, C. S., & Saewyc, E. M. (2018). Policy brief: Protecting
vulnerable LGBTQ youth and advocating for ethical health care. Nursing Outlook, 66(5),
505-507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2018.08.006
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2001). https://esv.literalword.com
Jang, Y., Park, N. S., Yoon, H., Huang, Y., Rhee, M., Chiriboga, D. A., & Kim, M. T. (2018). The
risk typology of healthcare access and its association with unmet healthcare needs in Asian
Americans. Health & Social Care in the Community, 26(1), 72-
79. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12463
Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2023). Essentials of the U.S. Health Care System. Jones & Bartlett
Learning.
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