Bill > S1091

This bill establishes an Office of Health Equity within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to coordinate state efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities, which are defined as differences in disease incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden among specific racial and ethnic groups. The bill declares that health disparities are widespread in Massachusetts and stem from social and economic factors beyond healthcare, such as education, employment, housing, and discrimination, and that addressing these disparities is crucial for other underserved populations as well. The Office of Health Equity will set goals, prepare annual plans, collaborate with various state agencies to address social determinants of health, evaluate program effectiveness, and produce a disparities impact statement for major state initiatives and an annual health disparities report card, including public hearings, to track progress and inform the public and policymakers. The bill also makes conforming amendments to existing laws, including adding the director of the Office of Health Equity to the Health Facilities Appeals Board and ensuring that the Health Disparities Council considers recommendations from the Office of Health Equity when establishing goals to reduce health care disparities in racial, ethnic, and disabled communities.