Research Partnership to Focus on COVID-19 Health Disparities

June 08, 2020 - The National Quality Minority Forum (NMQF) and Centene Corporation have launched a research partnership to evaluate the health disparities caused by COVID-19 in minority and underserved populations.

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The Minority and Rural Health Coronavirus Study (MRCS) will focus on the disproportionate impact the virus is having on communities of color. The researchers cited recent data that showed African Americans are dying from COVID-19 at nearly three times the rate of white Americans.

Additionally, in 42 states plus Washington, DC, Hispanics and Latinos make up a greater share of confirmed cases than their share of the population. In eight states, it’s over four times greater. In states that categorize Native Americans in demographic results, early data suggests that these communities are facing significantly disproportionate rates of infection and death.

"Over the past few months, we have experienced a world upended by a global pandemic and a country faced with civil unrest," said Michael F. Neidorff, Chairman, President and CEO of Centene.

"As a company providing health coverage to one in 15 Americans, we remain committed to taking action and playing a vital role in protecting the health of our members and local communities by identifying healthcare solutions to help address health disparities impacting our most vulnerable citizens."

MRCS is a prospective longitudinal study of the risk factors associated with the disproportionate impact coronavirus is having on racial minorities and underserved communities. Starting in June, Centene, NMQF, and other public and private healthcare organizations will conduct COVID-19 PCR testing and antibody testing at federally qualified health centers in five states across the country.

These organizations will provide testing to the general public at no cost. All testing locations were pre-identified based on various demographic characteristics, including a high proportion of African American deaths in proportion to the overall state population and a presence of communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

MRCS will use a phased-in approach to follow a volunteer cohort of 5,000 racial and ethnic minority participants for five years to examine the impact of COVID-19 on them and their families. Those who test positive for COVID-19 will receive monitoring kits and a daily call from providers for the first 14 days to provide medical advice and monitor any progression of symptoms, followed by once-per-week calls for one month.

Centene and NMQF have gathered researchers and academics from across the country to analyze and translate survey data, and based on the findings, provide valuable data and evidence-based solutions to inform the public health response and reduce healthcare disparities among underserved populations.

The MRCS research partnership is part of Centene’s Communities Together in Health initiative, which helps raise awareness around health disparities. During the COVID-19 pandemic the initiative is working to engage key stakeholders to help address disparities in healthcare. Through MRCS, leaders will continue this work.

"The pandemic has shined a bright light on what we have known for decades: throughout our nation's history, racial minorities have experienced reduced access to healthcare, higher rates of chronic conditions and, ultimately, higher rates of mortality across a range of health conditions," said Gary Puckrein, President and CEO of NMQF.

"With so many minority populations serving in essential roles on the front lines of this pandemic, we have an urgent need to provide them with accessible, equitable healthcare."