Addressing Health Disparities through a coalition the Disparities Action Network

In 2004, in an effort to address health disparities, the Massachusetts Legislature convened a Special Commission for the Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. This Commission was mandated to convene a group of experts, stakeholders and decision makers from public and private sector organizations to work to create a state-level, coordinated response to the growing problem of health disparities. Its final report should serve as a blueprint for policy change to eliminate disparities. It provided a unique opportunity to influence policy change. The Disparities Action Network (DAN) was created in June 2006 as a planned advocacy response to Special Commission Report, to translate report's findings into public policy. The DAN is a broad-based coalition of community organizations, unions, physicians, hospitals, community health centers, and public health advocates. The DAN though a consensus developed an omnibus bill, an Act to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Commonwealth, House Bill 2234 to address health equity issues. It proposes the creation of a new state Office of Health Equity to coordinate efforts of public agencies to eliminate disparities. The Bill was filed in the Massachusetts Legislature on January 2007 and had 38 co-sponsors. DAN members have expanded their range of advocacy, working to influence Administrative action in addition to the Legislature through the budget process. The DAN continues to build a larger, broader state network of educated consumers, mobilize grassroots support, educate legislators about disparities and the bill, engage media on disparities issue, and reach out to the Administration for support.