Working Toward Health Equity In Maryland

Maryland's Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities works to promote health equity among African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and Native Americans toward improving the health of all Marylanders.

 

Implementing the Maryland Health Improvement and Disparities Reduction Act of 2012

MHHD, Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (MCHRC) and the Department are working to implement a new law to reduce health disparities in the state, improve health outcomes such as infant mortality, obesity and cancer and lower health cost and hospital readmissions. 

• Creates Health Enterprise Zones (HEZs) where underserved communities will be saturated with primary care providers and other essential health care services
• Standardizes collection of data on race and ethnicity in health care and ensures carriers are working to track and reduce disparities
• Requires hospitals to describe their efforts to track and reduce health care disparities
• Sets criteria for health care providers on cultural competency and health literacy training and continuing education  

The Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities provides consultation to the Health Secretary in implementing the Act.