Universal Basic Income and Structural Racism in the US South

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS · Mar 9, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how providing a monthly payment, known as a universal basic income (UBI), can help improve healthcare access for Black men who are struggling financially and have chronic health issues. The trial will involve two groups of participants: one group will receive $500 each month for six months, while the other group will not. The goal is to see if this financial support encourages more visits to healthcare services, which can lead to better health outcomes.

To be eligible for this study, participants must be at least 45 years old, identify as Black or African American, and have a chronic health condition diagnosed by a doctor. They should also have recently been released from a correctional facility in Arkansas and not have used healthcare services in the past year. Participants will need to stay in the central Arkansas area during the study and share information about their job search and finances with the research team. This study aims to help understand the impact of financial support on health and to inform policies that can improve healthcare access for those in need.

Gender

MALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • self-report as having received from a medical professional a diagnosis for at least one chronic health condition (if chronic condition is HIV see supplement to this study (NCT NCT06186128));
• • be at least 45 years old;
• • be within 6 months of release from a correctional setting in Arkansas at the time of enrollment (only for those participants with a history of incarceration which will comprise half of the sample population for Aim 2);
• • be able to understand and speak English and to provide written and verbal informed consent;
• • plan to remain in the central Arkansas area for the duration of the study period;
• • be willing and able to provide bi-weekly information about all activities related to seeking employment and to share financial and income-related information with the study team;
• • self-identify as Black or African American;
• • have been assigned the male gender at birth;
• • be willing to provide medical releases to allow project staff to access healthcare records;
• • not be currently engaged in healthcare services (defined as not having attended a primary or specialty medical care visit in the past 12 months (excluding any visits to the emergency department or rooms or urgent care clinics in the last 12 months); and
• • have a median annual income up to 400% of the federal poverty threshold (the federal poverty threshold is defined as an annual income of less than $12,760 for single adults or $17,240 if a married couple files jointly) in the 12-month period prior to study enrollment or prior to their most current episode of incarceration.
• Exclusion Criteria:
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