Equitable Utilization of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for Veterans: Addressing Disparities
In a study published in the Journal of Aging & Social Policy, researchers examined if there were disparities in the utilization of HCBS for veterans, focusing on neighborhood deprivation, race, and rural location. Among the veterans included in the study, those in deprived neighborhoods were slightly more likely to receive HCBS, while those in rural areas had slightly lower rates. Black Veterans were more likely to receive HCBS than White Veterans, suggesting that the VA's investment in HCBS could serve as a model for other payers in the U.S. to reduce health disparities.