Impact of healthcare fraud on racial disparities in health outcomes in the United States

In the United States, a significant challenge confronting the healthcare system is healthcare fraud and abuse. Not surprisingly, there is a critical interrelationship between healthcare fraud and health disparities. Disparities in healthcare are exacerbated as fraudulent practices routinely target vulnerable and medically underserved beneficiaries. Consequently, this perpetuates a cycle of inequality, where minority and underserved communities are continuously disadvantaged, reinforcing the systemic barriers they face in accessing quality healthcare. This study employed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) systematic review approach to assess the impact of healthcare fraud on racial disparities in health Outcomes in the United States. A thematic analysis of seven research studies published from 2016 to date was done after filtering out 94 initial studies. The review revealed that healthcare fraud exacerbates disparities through resource diversion, trust erosion, quality degradation, and access barriers. It targets vulnerable populations, causing financial exploitation and heightened health disparities, while negatively impacting chronic disease management, preventive care, mental health, and overall mortality and morbidity among racial minorities. It was therefore concluded that healthcare fraud not only imposes a significant financial burden but also profoundly impacts the quality and accessibility of care for racial minorities, thereby exacerbating existing health disparities. Addressing these fraudulent practices is crucial for promoting health equity and ensuring that all populations receive the necessary, high-quality medical care they deserve. Effective interventions to combat healthcare fraud and mitigate its effects on racial disparities are essential for improving health outcomes and fostering a more equitable healthcare system in the United States.