The digital divide in healthcare is finally getting long-overdue policy attention. In tandem with growing concern over AI bias and unequal access to digital tools, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has ramped up its commitment to advancing digital health equity across vulnerable and underserved populations.
In early 2025, researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health introduced the Digital Health Care Equity Framework (DHEF), a roadmap for embedding equity into every stage of digital health development. It addresses what researchers call “digital determinants of health,” such as broadband access, device literacy, and language barriers. The framework is already informing funding strategies, tech development, and care delivery models.
Federal investment is following suit. The Office of Minority Health (OMH) recently announced over $6 million in grants to support leadership development and Indigenous health equity programs, with a particular emphasis on digital infrastructure and care accessibility.
“We’re entering an era where inclusive digital infrastructure is just as important as physical infrastructure in healthcare,” said Dr. Linnea Torres, policy director at HealthBridge, a nonprofit focused on health tech accessibility. “These policy signals are pushing the private sector to think more inclusively — from app design to data sharing.”
For providers of long-term and post-acute care, these changes are especially relevant.
Hillel Feuerman, who manages a national network of long-term care facilities, says policy support for digital tools is arriving at the right time.
“We’ve seen how technology — when implemented thoughtfully — can improve everything from care coordination to family communication,” Feuerman said. “Whether it’s expanding telehealth or making EHR systems more interoperable across settings, these efforts are helping facilities like ours deliver more consistent, connected care.”
Feuerman added that recent federal emphasis on broadband access and digital literacy also resonates with the operational realities of many senior living communities, especially in rural or underserved regions. “Staff training and infrastructure investment are key,” he noted, “and national momentum around digital equity helps reinforce that on the ground.”
As HHS expands its Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) and related programs to encourage innovation in health IT, stakeholders across the care continuum are being encouraged to prioritize accessibility, usability, and long-term sustainability, especially for older adults and non-tech-native populations.
Companies like MediNov and CareMesh are developing tools to simplify referrals, improve cross-provider communication, and enhance patient engagement — solutions that could be particularly impactful in settings like nursing homes and rehabilitation centers.
“We’re finally seeing technology designed around the workflows and realities of everyday care,” said Riya Malhotra, CTO of MediNov. “That’s the shift equity-focused policy is enabling.”
As digital transformation becomes increasingly central to healthcare reform, providers like Feuerman remain clear-eyed about both the opportunities and the work still ahead.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach,” he said. “But the direction is promising — and we’re seeing the benefits in the quality of care we’re able to provide.”
