Mass. budget includes health disparities initiative

BOSTON – The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ fiscal 2009 budget, as approved by the state House and Senate, but not yet signed by Gov. Deval L. Patrick, includes $250,000 to finance a new Office of Health Equity within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
Advocates had been seeking the creation of a state office to look at health care disparities, which are well documented and were further confirmed by data released earlier this year.
The budget article funds the establishment of the office but allows for additional money to be provided, through appropriations, for extra staff or consultants.
The office is to create an annual health disparities “report card” with regional disparities data; evaluate the effectiveness of interventions; and replicate successful programs across the state. In addition, the office is expected to work with a “disparities reduction program” to support efforts by community-based health agencies and community health workers to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.
For more information about the advocates’ efforts that led to passage of this budget article, go to hcfama.org.