Massachusetts health reform: An opportunity for eliminating disparities and creating health equity

As Massachusetts implements health reform and universal coverage for all its residents, advocates see an opportunity for addressing racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care as integral to reform. Ever since the IOM report, Unequal Treatment was issued in 2002, the Massachusetts public health community has turned its focus to the elimination of disparities through a variety of structures and mechanisms. In 2004 the legislature appointed a special commission for the elimination of health disparities; Chapter 58, the health reform legislation of 2006 included a Disparities Council; the Mayor of the City of Boston initiated a multi-year, multi-million dollar Disparities Project through the Boston Public Health Commission in 2007; and this year the Governor's budget proposed an Office of Health Equity under the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Advocacy groups, health care providers, professional associations, and community organizations, led by Health Care for All and Critical MASS came together to form the Disparities Action Network which filed legislation to address issues of health inequities in the state. This session will provide an overview of the strategies employed in the state and its capital city to lead in health reform that will result in the elimination of disparities and create health equity for the residents of the Commonwealth.