Bill > S1114

This bill aims to eliminate health disparities in the commonwealth by establishing an "office of health equity" within the executive office of health and human services, which will be led by a director who reports directly to the secretary of health and human services. This new office will coordinate all state activities to reduce and eliminate disparities in health outcomes and access to quality healthcare, particularly for racial and ethnic groups and people with disabilities, and will set goals and prepare an annual plan for the commonwealth to achieve these objectives. The bill also amends existing laws to include the director of the office of health equity on the health disparities council, which will advise the new office, and requires the council to make recommendations to the director to reduce and eliminate these disparities. Furthermore, the bill mandates that state agencies collaborate with the office of health equity on initiatives to address social and economic factors influencing health inequality, and that the office evaluate program effectiveness, identify best practices, and produce an annual health disparity report card with quantifiable measures and public hearings. Finally, it requires the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission to establish goals to reduce healthcare disparities and incorporate recommendations from the health disparities council and the office of health equity.