Date of Conferral

10-16-2024

Degree

Doctor of Healthcare Administration (D.H.A.)

School

Health Services

Advisor

Dr. Robert Hijazi

Abstract

Despite significant advancements in healthcare delivery and policy reforms, disparities in access to healthcare services persist among different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on these disparities remains debated. The purpose of this quantitative study was to utilize a secondary dataset from the Health and Medical Care Archive (HMCA) to examine the association between access to healthcare providers (dependent variable) and health insurance, income, employment status, and ACA provision (independent variables), based on Black non-Hispanic and White non-Hispanic between 2017 and 2020. The research questions investigated whether the ACA affected the healthcare access gap between these groups after accounting for health insurance, income, and employment status. Using Andersen’s model of healthcare utilization and a sample of 89, a chi-square analysis and ordinal logistic regression were performed. The study found a significant relationship between ACA provision and access to healthcare services, and between health insurance coverage and access. No association was found between employment status or race/ethnicity and access to healthcare; however, income level was a key factor, with higher income levels correlating with better access. These findings suggest that while the ACA has improved healthcare access, income disparities remain significant barriers. This indicates a need for targeted efforts to address economic inequalities in healthcare access. The study contributes to positive social change by informing the development and refinement of healthcare policies aimed at reducing disparities in healthcare access.

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