Bill > H2048

This bill establishes an "office of health equity" within the executive office of health and human services to coordinate the commonwealth's 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. This new office will be led by a director who reports directly to the secretary of health and human services, and the existing health disparities council will serve as an advisory board. The office will be responsible for setting goals, developing annual plans to reduce disparities, and collaborating with various state agencies, including those focused on housing, public safety, transportation, labor, and education, to address social factors that influence health inequality. Furthermore, the office will evaluate program effectiveness, prepare annual "disparities impact statements" for major state initiatives to assess their effect on health equity, and produce an annual "health disparities report card" that evaluates the commonwealth's progress, including public hearings to gather input. The bill also amends existing laws to include the director of the office of health equity in relevant health-related committees and requires the commission on health care facilities to establish goals for reducing disparities in racial, ethnic, and disabled communities, incorporating recommendations from the health disparities council and the new office of health equity.