Health Equity blog

Also in January, AHA released a guide for boards of health care organizations to identify ways to address health care equity. Among its recommendations are accountability; boards must hold themselves and their executives accountable for prioritizing health care equity and ensuring that it becomes integral to the organization’s culture. Ensuring diversity in the board’s composition and connecting with members of the community and responding to their concerns and needs are also key. Additionally, in an era of spiraling health care costs, AHA recommends that boards champion financial resiliency and long-term investments in their communities besieged with health care inequities.

In late January, HRSA announced a new Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative, which will further HRSA’s maternal health work to address maternal mortality and maternal health disparities. The program will be operated in conjunction with state and local health officials, community organizations, and others. HRSA believes the initiative will maximize its investment and impact in maternal health for communities identified as “high need,” including areas in AZ, AL, GA, IL, KY, MD, MI, MO, MT, NC, OR, and DC.

CMS is currently accepting nominations until March 13 for its 2024 Health Equity Award. The award recognizes organizations that are working to advance health equity, and demonstrating for others how they too can reduce disparities in health care access, quality, and outcomes.