The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, has a new, proactive plan to bring more equitable health outcomes to people in underserved and disadvantaged communities. The CMS Framework for Health Equity calls for improved data collection, more culturally appropriate services, and broader access to health-related social services for those who receive care paid for by the nation’s largest health insurer. This public health insurance covers nearly 64 million enrolled in Medicare and more than 83 million beneficiaries of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan. Health equity goals for the 2022 Strategic Plan include incentivizing other insurers to enter single-issuer rural counties in the individual market. CMS will host a Health Equity Symposium today at 1:00 pm to provide more details on the health equity plan.
