The U.S. health equity community is buzzing over today’s announcement by U.S. Senator Edward Markey, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee, who introduced legislation designed to reduce health inequities and expand primary care access to underrepresented and vulnerable populations. The bill is focused on addressing health care inequities among populations in communities that have been impacted by both public health and climate-based challenges, including Black, Brown, immigrant and rural communities.
The comprehensive proposed legislation includes several health equity components, including $130 billion over five years for community health centers focused on enabling access to community-based health and medical services, primarily for those who historically have lacked such services. Separately, given the significant impact that hospital closures and service reductions have on traditionally underrepresented populations, the measure also would establish a public accountability process when health facilities propose closing or reducing services.
The bill also includes provisions aimed at addressing the health equity “pipeline” challenge of increasing diversity among healthcare and medical professionals. One such measure provides $100 billion over ten years to increase the number of diverse community health workers and empower community health workers to foster strong careers and more healthy communities.
The bill text can be accessed here, and a summary of the proposed legislation can be accessed here.
