Phase I: Disparities in Access to Advanced Medical Procedures in the Medicare Population

Racial and ethnic healthcare disparities in access to advanced interventions have stubbornly persisted for decades in the U.S. medical system. The first of a three-phase research series of analysis examines the difference in access to certain advanced interventions, including a range of surgical, medical and technological interventions.
This report is focused primarily on differences by race in the use of certain health services by Medicare beneficiaries across a range of common clinical conditions in 2018 and 2019.
Related Reading
News / Diagnostics / Health Access
Charles Fleischman Receives the First-ever AdvaMedDx Lifetime of Leadership & Service Award
November 10, 2025
WASHINGTON—AdvaMed, the Medtech Association, is pleased to announce Charles Fleischman as the first-ever recipient of the AdvaMedDx Lifetime of Leadership & Service Award.
Blog / Coverage & Payment / Diagnostics / Government & Legislative Affairs / Health Access
Breaking Barriers: Why Medicare Must Cover Breakthrough Medical Technology Now
November 5, 2025
As patient advocates, we’ve witnessed countless stories of hope deferred and lives put on hold while Medicare beneficiaries wait several years for access to breakthrough medical technologies that the FDA has already deemed safe and effective. This unacceptable delay between innovation and access must end. Innovation does not benefit patients without coverage.
News / Coverage & Payment / Diabetes / Government & Legislative Affairs / Health Access
AdvaMed Welcomes Bipartisan, Bicameral Congressional Diabetes Caucus Concerns Over Draft Medicare Competitive Bidding Proposal
November 3, 2025
WASHINGTON—AdvaMed, the world’s largest trade association representing medtech innovators, today welcomed a letter from U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, and U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette (D-Colo.-01) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.-12), co-chairs of the U.S. House Diabetes Caucus, to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz urging the agency not to finalize a proposal the lawmakers warned could reduce and complicate patient access to continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and durable insulin pumps.
News / Global & Trade / Government & Legislative Affairs / Health Access / Supply Chain / Tariffs
AdvaMed Statement on Commerce Department Section 232 National Security Investigation
September 25, 2025
WASHINGTON—AdvaMed, the MedTech Association, released the following statement from President and CEO Scott Whitaker on the Administration’s announcement of its investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act into whether the U.S.’s current level of medtech imports has national security implications:
News / Coverage & Payment / Diagnostics / Government & Legislative Affairs / Health Access
AdvaMed Thanks U.S. House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for Highlighting the Need for Medicare Coverage of Breakthrough Medtech
September 18, 2025
WASHINGTON—AdvaMed, the medtech association, today thanked the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for highlighting the need for Medicare coverage of FDA-authorized breakthrough medtech and releasing a discussion draft of breakthrough coverage legislation at a hearing, “Examining Policies to Enhance Seniors’ Access to Breakthrough Medical Technologies.”
News / Coverage & Payment / Diagnostics / Government & Legislative Affairs / Health Access
AdvaMed Welcomes Key U.S. House Committee Passage of Breakthrough Medtech Coverage Bill, Urges Addition of Diagnostic Tests
September 17, 2025
WASHINGTON—AdvaMed, the medtech association, today welcomed U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means passage of legislation providing Medicare coverage of FDA-designated and authorized breakthrough medtech. AdvaMed also urged legislators to add diagnostic tests to the measure, the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act, H.R. 5343.
News / Coverage & Payment / Diabetes / Diagnostics / Digital Health / Government & Legislative Affairs / Health Access
AdvaMed Welcomes CMS’ Rural Health Transformation Program
September 15, 2025
WASHINGTON—AdvaMed, the medtech association, welcomed today’s CMS’ announcement of the details of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program. This program gives states the chance to access the latest health care technologies that best suit their needs to improve health outcomes for rural Americans.
News / Health Access / Workforce Advancement
Mike Mussallem Named 2025 Medtech Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
September 15, 2025
Washington, D.C.—Today, AdvaMed, the Medtech Association, announced that Mike Mussallem, former chairman and CEO of Edwards Lifesciences, will receive the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award at the medtech industry’s premier annual gathering, The MedTech Conference, in San Diego Oct. 5-8.