Investing in health equity pays dividends for our communities

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OPINION – I still remember a patient whose wife urged him to get screened for colorectal cancer. At 55, with a strong family history of the disease, he was understandably hesitant about getting a colonoscopy. But together, we agreed that preventive screening was the right step. The results were abnormal, but because the cancer was caught in time, he was able to receive treatment before it became life-threatening. Stories like his underscore what we know to be true, early detection and preventative care save lives.

In exam rooms across California, primary care physicians see the consequences of delayed interventions. Treatable conditions, such as early detected colorectal cancer, become life-threatening emergencies. Chronic illnesses spiral into crises. And families who are already stretched thin pay the price: emotionally, physically, and financially.

As California and the nation debate the future of health care coverage, Medi-Cal funding, and access to preventive services, these individual stories are often lost in policy language and budget spreadsheets. But the reality is simple: when preventive care is weakened, costs don’t disappear. They shift onto emergency rooms, local governments, employers, taxpayers, and patients.

I’ve spent more than two decades practicing family medicine and leading health systems, and I’ve also seen what happens when preventive, community-based care is available early and consistently. A senior with multiple chronic conditions who can safely remain at home instead of entering a nursing facility. A pregnant mother receiving regular prenatal care, reducing complications for both her and her child. A working parent managing hypertension before it leads to a stroke.

These outcomes are not just good medicine; they are good economics. It builds jobs, stabilizes families, strengthens communities, and reduces long-term health care costs, all while honoring a simple principle that should guide all societies: everyone deserves the chance to be healthy.

A recent analysis of community-based care delivery in Southern California shows that investments in preventive care generate real, measurable returns. At AltaMed, we know that every dollar spent on prevention can save $2 to $10 in future health care costs by reducing emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

As the largest, and most impactful Federally Qualified Health Center, AltaMed health providers have supported tens of thousands of jobs and generated $15.1 billion in regional economic activity. We serve more than 465,000 Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) patients and nearly 90,000 uninsured or fee-for-service patients annually, many of them Latino or Black Californians who have historically faced barriers to care. Our bilingual, culturally competent workforce is not just a branding exercise, it is essential infrastructure for trust, adherence to treatment, and better health outcomes.

California is at an inflection point. Federal policy shifts and ongoing coverage uncertainty are already putting pressure on safety-net systems. When coverage erodes or access narrows, the people most affected are those managing chronic disease, seniors on fixed incomes, and working families who delay care until they have no other choice.

Across the state, community health centers quietly absorb the shock. They care for patients regardless of insurance status. They manage chronic disease before it becomes catastrophic. And they do so while employing local residents, partnering with small businesses, and anchoring neighborhoods that have historically been underserved.

At AltaMed, I see this every day as a clinical reality. We care for over 700,000 patients whose alternatives are often the emergency room or nothing at all. Through our investment in preventative care, we know that culturally competent care stabilizes families, strengthens communities, and reduces long-term public costs.

Health care debates are often framed as ideological or fiscal battles. But for patients sitting across from their doctors, the issue is far more human. It’s about whether care arrives early enough to make a difference. Whether a manageable condition stays manageable. Whether a family avoids a crisis that never needed to happen.

Consider our Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which has grown 75 percent since 2019. By coordinating medical, social, and transportation services, we help seniors safely age at home rather than in costly institutional care settings. That preserves dignity while reducing the financial burden on families and public programs alike.

As policymakers consider the future of health care funding at both the state and federal levels, I hope they remember the stories behind the statistics because prevention is not an abstract concept.

José Mayorga, M.D. is the Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer for AltaMed Health Services.