The Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) recently published the results of the 2023 Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey (MHIS), a biennial population-based survey providing information on health coverage, access, and affordability trends in the Commonwealth. It’s been over 15 years since the state’s landmark health coverage expansion, but there are still significant disparities in experience of quality and access to care for residents of color. According to the findings, nearly half of non-Hispanic Black residents (48.7%) and three in five Hispanic residents (58.2%) reported at least one affordability issue for their families compared to 39.2% of non-Hispanic White residents. These results emphasize a critical need for action now more than ever. The Compact’s proposed legislation #AnActToAdvanceHealthEquity advocates for health care organizations to deliver quality care that meets the needs of diverse populations and reducing gaps in coverage so everyone can have affordable, quality health care. Thank you to CHIA for sharing these key findings and continuing to monitor the experiences of Massachusetts residents to help inform future policy change. Learn more about MHIS here: https://lnkd.in/d7r7tXM #MAPoli
About us
The Health Equity Compact brings together over 65 leaders of color across a diverse set of Massachusetts organizations – including hospitals, health centers, payers, academic institutions and public health – to advance health equity in Massachusetts.
- Website
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https://healthequitycompact.org/
External link for Health Equity Compact
- Industry
- Health and Human Services
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Headquarters
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Type
- Nonprofit
Locations
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Primary
Boston, Massachusetts , US
Employees at Health Equity Compact
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Javier Barrientos
Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Point32Health
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Allison Bryant Mantha
Associate Chief Health Equity Officer, Mass General Brigham
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Claire Cooper
Vice President of Business Development at The Partnership, Inc.
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Carlos F. Cappas, PsyD, MBA
Chief Behavioral Health Officer
Updates
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Thank you to Compact leader, Amie Shei, for pledging to promote #HealthEquity! The work she does to improve the health of those in central Massachusetts in response to the changing health needs of the region is making a real impact. We appreciate her commitment to this critical work of advancing health equity across the state. 📣 Comment below and tell us how you're contributing to the progress being made as well!
What a day for the Health Equity Compact! Thank you to the many hundreds in the room and tuning in online for the second Health Equity Trends Summit #HETS2024. Proud to represent the HEC Leadership Team, The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, and the Central Massachusetts region as we continue this important and urgent work to advance health equity. I pledge to promote health equity and hope you will make a pledge too.
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Yesterday was an exciting day for the future of health equity – Atrius Health Equity Foundation, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) and the Boston Community Health Collaborative officially announced their new multi-sector partnership, “Live Long and Well Boston.” This initiative will infuse $10M to address racial, ethnic, and neighborhood gaps in health outcomes, support community-led priorities, and promote healthier, longer lives for all Boston residents. At our Health Equity Trends Summit in June, we had an opportunity to learn about this exciting partnership aiming to tackle the social and economic factors influencing how long and how well we live. Through collaboration and collective action, we can reduce life expectancy disparities. “In order to close these gaps, we need to focus on drivers of poor health that exist outside the walls of health care institutions, like poverty and economic inequality. This will require a collaborative, whole-of-society, multi-sector approach," said Compact Member and BPHC Commissioner of Public Health & Executive Director, Dr. Bisola Ojikutu. Learn more below!
Boston residents deserve to live long, healthy lives. Today, we announced our Live Long and Well Agenda which aims to close gaps in premature deaths while improving health outcomes across Boston’s neighborhoods. We also announced a new partnership promoting our health equity agenda, collaborating with Atrius Health Equity Foundation and Boston Community Heath Collaborative. Atrius Health Equity Foundation committed $10 million for community-led coalitions to improve financial well-being in communities with poor cardiometabolic health outcomes. “Boston is a city that is rich with high quality health care resources. Yet, we have long-standing gaps in life expectancy and other health outcomes by race, ethnicity and neighborhood,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “In order to close these gaps, we need to focus on drivers of poor health that exist outside the walls of health care institutions, like poverty and economic inequality. This will require a collaborative, whole-of-society, multi-sector approach. I want to thank Atrius Health Equity Foundation for their investment that I hope will catalyze more new partnerships to improve health and well-being for all in our city.” Learn more at boston.gov/live-long. Read the press release: https://lnkd.in/eStKRNWJ #LiveLongAndWell #LiveLong #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #Boston
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Health Equity Compact reposted this
Thanks to The Bay State Banner newspaper for highlighting our equity and community focus at the Boston Public Health Commission. It takes a village comprised of incredibly dedicated staff to get this work done. Thanks to all of our partners in this work, including (and certainly not limited to) the Health Equity Compact, Atrius Health Equity Foundation, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA). Avery Bleichfeld (Banner reporter) is writing a series on Black leaders in STEM in Boston. Stay tuned to see who is profiled next. #STEMleaders #diversityinscience
As Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, Dr. Bisola Ojikutu’s dedication and commitment to health equity and systems change as tools to meet Boston communities where they are is unwavering. Her years of experience in the public health field, in the U.S. and abroad, and her personal experiences ground her in the work to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents. She embodies the mission and values of the Boston Public Health Commission. “We know that here in Boston, we have significant challenges ahead in regards to health outcomes … however, I’m hopeful, because I think we’re talking about the right aspects of this,” Ojikutu said. “We’re not just talking about the individual-level or even household-level interventions, we’re thinking systems change.” Read more about Dr. Ojikutu's journey and her story of becoming the leader of one of the oldest public health agencies in the country at https://lnkd.in/ewzME5FG Story by Avery Bleichfeld, The Bay State Banner newspaper #PublicHealth #News #HealthEquity #Community
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A tremendous win for #HealthEquity in Massachusetts! On Thursday, the House voted unanimously to pass an omnibus maternal health bill that will allow licensing for certified professional midwives and lactation consultations, remove barriers to open birth centers, expand access to postpartum depression screenings, and raise awareness of mood and anxiety disorders due to pregnancy loss. Massachusetts has one of the highest rates of severe maternal morbidity in the country. This is an important moment in charting a new path forward for maternal health outcomes, particularly among people of color. Thank you to House Speaker Ron Mariano, Joint Committee on Public Health Chair Marjorie Decker, Joint Committee on Health Care Financing Chair John Lawn, Representative Christopher Worrell, and Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley, Esq. for your work to advance this important legislation. Read more here: https://bit.ly/45Lbu10 #HealthEquityCompact #MaternalHealthOutcomes #MAPoli
Mass. House approves sweeping maternal health bill, could overhaul midwifery and birth centers
wgbh.org
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Health Equity Compact reposted this
A great afternoon showcasing health equity champions at the Boston Globe Media's Health Equity Summit! Thank you Chris Reddick and Dorosella Green, MS-PREP for creating the space to focus on community health workers and to John Hancock for Health Equity Compact member Monica Bharel MD, MPH's live podcast with Janet Wu, spotlighting Monica's continued work and leadership to eradicate health inequities in Massachusetts. Favorite take-aways: Ashish Jha explaining how health equity-focused job training programs are an example of structural change. Sheila Och, MPH and Lissette Blondet giving examples of how equitable access to health care isn't possible without community health workers. Kate Wallis referencing The Time is Now report; the status quo is not sustainable and we have to move the needle. "Heath equity is not optional." #healthequitycompact #healthequitynow #healthequityvoter Rosa M. Colon-Kolacko, PhD. MBA, CDM, SHRM-SCP Ann Hwang Amie Shei
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Health Equity Compact reposted this
Thank you @JALSA_boston for recognizing the Health Equity Compact and for your allyship and solidarity in pursuit of social and racial justice for all marginalized communities
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Reflecting on our 2024 Health Equity Trends Summit last week, we’re still feeling energized from the packed room filled with collaboration, leadership and concrete examples of action making structural changes within our health system. In case you missed it, check out this great recap from Avery Bleichfeld of The Bay State Banner newspaper. https://lnkd.in/eFT7_C-u #HETS2024 #HealthEquityInAction #HealthEquityCompact
Health leaders, state officials propose bold health equity goals - The Bay State Banner
baystatebanner.com
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“𝐵𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑟. 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑢𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑠-𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑟𝑦.” In recognition of Community Health Worker (CHW) Week, we’re highlighting the work of CHWs and Compact member Lissette Blondet, executive director of the MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (MACHW). At MACHW, Lissette leads a network of 1,300 CHWs and their allies, offering services to strengthen their professional identity and integrate them into all aspects of health care through education, research, policy development and advocacy. In Lissette’s words, CHWs are the alchemists of health care access. CHWs, many of whom are women of color, bring to their roles an intimate knowledge of their community, their own lived experience, core competencies and fantastic creativity to help their clients navigate the health care landscape. They help fill gaps for providers who aren’t always attuned to the unique health needs of communities of color, providing access to resources for clients who may otherwise feel unempowered or unwelcome in the health system. By uplifting CHWs, we can better create a community-centered workforce that is uniquely positioned to develop responsive solutions to health inequities in our neighborhoods. CHWs go the extra mile to provide tailored and innovative solutions for patients to overcome structural barriers to necessary care services. On June 12, Lissette will join Boston Globe Media and Compact members Chris Reddick and Sheila Och, MPH for an engaging discussion on how Massachusetts can advance health equity through CHWs. Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/45mU8HC #CHWWeek #CHW #CommunityHealthWorkers #HealthEquityCompact
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Health Equity Compact reposted this
This Wednesday is Health Equity Day 2024. Come together at WBUR CitySpace in Boston with health leaders, medical experts, and community advocates for an afternoon dedicated to reducing health disparities and advancing more inclusive care. We'll kick off with a headlining fireside chat with Dr. Ashish K. Jha moderated by reporter Adam Piore, and close with a networking reception for all attendees. Register to join in person or virtually: https://trib.al/P7mIHlc Thank you to our sponsors and partners: Sanofi, John Hancock, Point32Health, Takeda, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Partners In Health, Health Equity Compact, and @[Health Resources in Action (HRiA)].
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