Strategies

Expand broadband availability and adoption in unserved and underserved areas through initiatives that address infrastructure and cost barriers

Support financial institutions providing services to underserved and disadvantaged communities

Involve consumers in health care governance via roles on governing boards, advisory committees, or shorter-term special projects

Provide education on basic budgeting, bank use, credit management, bankruptcy, credit building and counseling, homeownership, retirement, divorce, etc.

Increase patients’ health-related knowledge via efforts to simplify health education materials, improve patient-provider communication, and increase overall literacy

Apologize for discriminatory housing policies; increase subsidies, financing, and paths to homeownership for people of color; and invest in systematically disadvantaged neighborhoods

Integrate legal services into health care settings to address legal issues that affect health (e.g., housing, food, utilities); services provided by private practice lawyers, law students, etc.

Require employers in an affected jurisdiction to provide paid time off for employees to use when ill or injured

Make pricing for hospital procedures and other health care services publicly available, often via websites, online databases, report cards, or similar tools

Establish state level regulations that require nursing homes to employ at least a set number of licensed and non-licensed nursing staff, often set in terms of staff hours per resident day