Regulatory Factors Associated with Discriminatory Behaviors among Federally Qualified Health Centers
Advisory Committee Chair
Larry Hearld
Advisory Committee Members
Amy Landry
Nancy Borkowski
Ria Hearld
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
1-1-2025
Degree Name by School
Executive Doctor of Science (DSc) School of Health Professions
Abstract
REGULATORY FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DISCRIMINATORY BEHAVIORS AMONG FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS MIRANDA SEDILLO Executive Doctor of Science (DSc) in Healthcare Leadership Abstract Background Socially constructed classism restricts access to human rights, including employment and growth opportunities. The civil rights and labor movements have intersected throughout United States’ history as many civil rights leaders championed equal rights in employment opportunities. For several decades, the U.S. government has used laws and regulations to promote a healthy workplace free of discrimination. The influence of legal regulation on behavior change enforces punitive actions for discriminatory behaviors in the workplace. Yet, in 2020, the U.S. EEOC received over 470,000 calls and 187,000 online filings of accused discrimination in the workplace. Methods The correlation between municipality-level laws, ordinances, and practices with FQHC-specific lawsuits was examined across areas of non-discrimination laws, municipality employment, municipality services, law enforcement, and municipality leadership on LGBTIQ+ equality. Four multivariate relationship models were analyzed with and without state-fixed effects. Results It was found that municipality-level non-discrimination laws and municipality-level employment ordinances had a positive correlation with an increase in lawsuits by FQHC employees. FQHCs in municipalities with a one-unit higher level of MEIS Laws subscore were associated with 18.3% more lawsuits, on average (IRR = 1.183, 95% CI 1.067 – 1.311). Similarly, FQHCs in municipalities with a one-unit higher level of MEIS Employment subscore were associated with 7.1% more lawsuits, on average (IRR = 1.071, 95% CI 1.021 – 1.22). Control variables in organizational size (revenue and patient volume) were significantly associated in with the number of lawsuits. Conclusion Municipality-level laws and ordinances is associated with a higher number of employee-related lawsuits against FQHCs. FQHC leaders should take action to identify, address and mitigate legal risks in their organization related to changes in law, legal precedence, growth in the organization, and employee and patient satisfaction.
Recommended Citation
Sedillo, Miranda Leah, "Regulatory Factors Associated with Discriminatory Behaviors among Federally Qualified Health Centers" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 6886.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/6886
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