WHAT: A virtual event for Marylanders to learn about $41.5 million in new health equity resources coming to their communities.
WHO:
- Delegate Jazz Lewis, District 24, Prince George’s County
- Nellie Washington, Health Equity Resource Communities Project Director, Maryland Community Health Resources Commission
- Rev. Dr. Sandra Conner, President, Baptist Ministers’ Night Conference of Baltimore & Vicinity
- Vincent DeMarco, President, Maryland Health Care For All! Coalition
WHEN: Thursday, September 26 from 10AM-11:30AM
WHERE: Via Zoom; register here.
BACKGROUND
This virtual event will present information about new Health Equity Resource Communities (HERCs) benefiting communities across the state. Dozens of community leaders from across the state have registered to be part of this event to learn about this exciting new program to improve health equity in Maryland.
In 2021 the Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition successfully advocated for the Health Equity Resource Act, sponsored by Senator Antonio Hayes, Delegate Jazz Lewis, and then-Delegate Erek Barron, which creates Health Equity Resource Communities designed to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for people who have been left behind on health progress.
“Marylanders believe that everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible, no matter their zip code. We’re proud of passing this legislation that will begin to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes for far too many who have long felt overlooked, unheard and unserved,” said Del. Jazz Lewis, a co-sponsor of the legislation.
The program is administered by the Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC), which began with two years of Pathways Programs to get the work started.
“This legislation is a critical step in rectifying longstanding inequities in health care delivery in Maryland,” said Vincent DeMarco, President of the Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition. “We will do all we can to educate the members of our broad coalition about the services now available through the HERCs to improve health equity in Maryland.”
“This is an important investment made by the Maryland General Assembly,” said Nellie Washington, Health Equity Resource Communities Program Director at the Community Health Resources Commission. “This funding will significantly expand access and support innovative and effective strategies to reduce health disparities.”
The Maryland faith community strongly supports the work of the Health Equity Resource Communities,” said Rev. Dr. Sandra Conner, President of the Baptist Ministers’ Night Conference of Baltimore & Vicinity. “We will do all we can to make sure our members as well as the communities we serve know about the various health services that will be available to them through the HERCs.”
Now, the CHRC has awarded 12 HERC grants all across the state totaling $41.5 million for programs that will go through 2029.
These grants will support efforts to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in underserved communities.
The HERC program is modeled after the successful 2012-2016 Health Enterprise Zones Program which successfully increased access to health resources, improved residents’ health, reduced hospital admissions, and created cost savings.
Supporting health will help reduce preventable hospital admissions, which will result in lower overall health care costs, including lower insurance premiums for everyone.
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Last modified: September 25, 2024
