An Act to Advance Health Equity is moving through the Massachusetts legislature following the filing by the Health Equity Compact (HEC) and co-sponsored by several state legislators. The HEC is a coalition of Black and Latinx leaders in the medical and health care space, labor, business, and other advocates for policies that address racial and ethnic inequities in health outcomes.
The Act’s focal point is equity across the range of reforms sought to be achieved by the proposed legislation, including the creation of a new cabinet-level Executive Office of Equity, to be led by a Secretary of Equity. Moreover, it also looks to further diversify leadership within other key state governing bodies by race, ethnicity and gender.
The standardization and reporting on health equity data also is central to the Act’s mission. Specifically, it requires the utilization of health equity data metrics that are standardized across payer organizations and providers, as well as robust accountability provisions relating to data reporting.
Health equity proponents also laud the Act in its focus on both patients and healthcare workers. On the patient side, it seeks to enhance access and the quality of care for individuals from historically underrepresented communities. On the practitioner side, it includes measures to create more diversity among healthcare works so that they better reflect the communities they service.
Additional information and the bill itself can be accessed here.
