National US Health Equity Survey Demonstrates Some Progress on Organizational Health Equity Goals, Emerging Priorities on Activation, Analytics, and Capacity Building

OBJECTIVES: Advancing health equity necessitates collective action, and yet comprehensive study of current and planned health equity priorities, investments, challenges, and actions across industries has been limited. EY Center for Health Equity’s inaugural 2023 Health Equity Outlook Report established a baseline understanding of health equity efforts across the health ecosystem to enable transparency and shared learnings among peers. The second annual survey provides an updated view of health equity practice, priorities, and funding across key stakeholder segments.

METHODS: A quantitative survey was fielded nationally in January 2024 to provider, payer, life sciences, public health, and non-profit and community-based organizations. 500 responses were collected across segments on current and planned health equity efforts through the lens of strategy, data and analytics, workforce, and community engagement.

RESULTS: The survey found strong, continued momentum in developing strategies, investing in health equity priorities, and building infrastructure. Expectations for future investment in health equity efforts is correlated with organizational size and varies based on prioritized area of spend. Relatedly, leadership and financial commitment as well as business case articulation remain key indicators for successful activation of health equity strategies across industries. While most organizations report having a health equity data strategy in place, they remain largely in early or intermediate stages of health equity data maturity. Artificial intelligence is cited as a common enabler to such data strategies and capabilities.

CONCLUSIONS: Health Equity remains a priority for most organizations surveyed, yet many are not yet fully achieving goals or prepared to meet regulatory guidance on data capabilities, gap closures, and outcomes. Across segments, there is a consistent need to align efforts, confront systemic biases, and amplify impact. With new policy emphasizing health equity activation, stakeholders are urged to prioritize building upon strategy development and toward capability building for sustainable action.