Overview
The 2024 CMS Health Equity Conference was held on May 29-30, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Bethesda, Maryland, and virtually, featuring grand plenary and breakout sessions, a poster hall, and a Federal Partner Exhibit Hall. The theme of the 2024 conference was Sustaining Health Equity Through Action. Attendees from federal and local agencies, health provider organizations, academia, community-based organizations, and others had the opportunity to hear from CMS leadership on recent developments and updates to CMS programs; explore the latest health equity research; discuss promising practices and creative solutions; and collaborate on community engagement strategies.
The 2024 CMS Health Equity Conference featured plenary remarks from speakers across the federal government, a keynote address by the American Medical Association’s Dr. Aletha Maybank, and a Health Equity Award ceremony. Learn about and watch each session below.
Day 1 Welcome from CMS Administrator and HHS Maternal Health Panel
CMS Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) Former Acting Director Dr. Aditi Mallick, CMS OMH Director Dr. Martin Mendoza, and CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure welcomed attendees to the 2024 CMS Health Equity Conference. Dr. Mallick then moderated a maternal health panel featuring CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson, and SAMHSA Assistant Secretary Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon to discuss HHS’ coordinated maternal care strategy.
Day 1 Afternoon Plenary Session: Aletha Maybank, MD, MPH
Introduced by CMS OMH Deputy Director Pamela Gentry, Dr. Aletha Maybank from the American Medical Association gave a keynote address on sustaining health equity through action.
Day 2 Welcome from CMS Office of Minority Health Deputy Director and Health Equity Award Ceremony
Pamela Gentry started the second day of the CMS Health Equity Conference by addressing attendees and introducing CMS Principal Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer Jon Blum, MPP. Jon Blum presented the Health Equity Award to Augusta Health and Latino Connection, and representatives from both organizations participated in a moderated panel.
Day 2 Afternoon Plenary Session: Access, Affordability, and Quality: A Discussion with CMS Leadership
Aditi Mallick, MD (CMS); Dora Hughes, MD, MPH (CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality); Jeff Wu, JD, MBA (CMS Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight); Jessica Lee, MD, MSHP (CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services); Liz Fowler, PhD, JD (CMS Innovation Center); Meena Seshamani, MD, PhD (CMS Center for Medicare); and Tim Engelhardt, MHS (CMS Federal Coordinated Health Care Office) presented on access, affordability, and quality within CMS programs and policies.
Closing Remarks
At the end of the two-day conference, CMS OMH Director Dr. Martin Mendoza thanked the attendees and speakers and reflected on the event.
Breakout sessions
Sessions throughout the conference focused on the five priorities for reducing disparities in health from the CMS Framework for Health Equity 2022-2032. Watch and learn more below.
- Analyzing Network Data to Improve Access to Providers That Are Critical to Meeting the Health Equity Needs of Marketplace Consumers
Cheryl Fish-Parcham, MSW (Families USA); Erika Melman, MPP (CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight); Kyle Esdaille, PhD (American Institutes for Research); and Subhash Seelam, MBA (Quest Analytics) presented on Analyzing Network Data to Improve Access to Providers That Are Critical to Meeting the Health Equity Needs of Marketplace Consumers. Moderator: Laura Weidner, JD (Epilepsy Foundation).
- Building Capacity for the Health Care Workforce: Tools and Lessons Learned to Assist in Reducing Health Care Disparities
Amanda Wyatt Hutto, PCMH CCE (TMF Health Quality Institute) and Anne Carpenter, MSW, MHA, ACHE (TMF Health Quality Institute) presented on Implementing CLAS to Improve Health Equity. Antoinette Percy-Laurry, DrPH, MSPH (National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities) and Steven Gong (National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities) presented on HDPulse: A Resource to Identify Disparities and Access Interventions to Improve Rural Health. Kayla Salazar Poncet, MSW (Community Health Plan of Washington) and Victoria Gersch, MPH (Community Health Plan of Washington) presented on Lessons from the Community Health Plan of Washington: Designing an Equity-Focused Payment Model to Support Capacity Building, Community Needs, and Accountability. Moderator: Thomas Mason, MD (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology).
- Building Community Capacity to Advance Health Equity: Lessons from Accountable Communities for Health in California and Texas
Amy Hooten (City of Longview Fire Department); Carolyn Johnson, EdD, MBA, MPH (Black Cultural Zone); and Ener Chiu (East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation) presented on Building Community Capacity to Advance Health Equity: Lessons from Accountable Communities for Health in California and Texas. Moderator: Anne Reid, MPH (George Washington University, Funders Forum on Accountable Health).
- Building Organizational and Staff Capacity at Community Health Centers to Reduce Visual Health Disparities
Luke Ertle, MPH (Association for Clinicians for the Underserved); Morgan Cassidy, MHA, MPH, JM (Cherokee Health Systems); and Susan Olivo, MBA (Lavelle Fund for the Blind) presented on Building Organizational and Staff Capacity at Community Health Centers to Reduce Visual Health Disparities. Moderator: Ashley Valentine (Sick Cells).
- Discussion of Recent Advances in HHS Health Equity Data Efforts
Abigail Viall, ScD, MA (CDC Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology); Karen Matsuoka, PhD (CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services); Morgan Gruenewald (CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight); and Nancy Chiles Shaffer, PhD (CMS Office of Minority Health) discussed recent advances in CMS health equity data efforts. Moderator: Meagan Khau, MHA (CMS Office of Minority Health).
- Ensuring Access for Patients with Disabilities in an Evolving Telehealth Landscape
Jan Withers, MA (North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing); Kathy Wibberly, PhD (Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center); Laura C. Hoffman, SJD (Cleveland State University College of Law); Robert C. Nutt, MD, MPH (Disability Determination Services at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services); and Tony Davis, MSW (North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) presented on Ensuring Access for Patients with Disabilities in an Evolving Telehealth Landscape. Moderator: Katie Reget, MPH (Association of American Medical Colleges).
- Gold Standard: Aligning on Best Practice for Measuring Health Inequities and the Impact of Efforts to Reduce Them Across the U.S. Health Care Industry
Kristen Azar, RN, MSN/MPH, FAHA (Sutter Health); Nikki Tennermann, LICSW, MBA (Institute for Healthcare Improvement); Rachel Harrington, PhD (National Committee for Quality Assurance); and Whitney Haggerson, MHA (Providence) presented on Gold Standard: Aligning on Best Practice for Measuring Health Inequities and the Impact of Efforts to Reduce Them Across the U.S. Health Care Industry. Moderator: Erin Mackay, MPH (National Partnership for Women and Families).
- Health Equity Lightning Talks
Katie Ettman, MPA (San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association) and Kristin Sukys, MS (Food is Medicine) presented on Coding4Food. Molly Lawson, MAS, RN, BMTCN (Dalio Center for Health Justice, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital) presented on Creating a Robust Library of Sickle Cell Educational Materials for Patients, Providers, and the Community. Varleisha Lyons, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, FAOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) presented on Historical Trauma and Health Disparities: How Incorporating Intergenerational Lived Experiences of Indigenous, Native Americans, and Alaska Natives Can Improve Indian Health Service by CMS Health Care Providers. Priya Bathija, JD, MHSA (Nyoo Health) presented on Achieving Digital Equity and Literacy in Maternal Health. Stella “Stace” Mandl, BSW, BSN, RN, PHN (CMS Office of Burden Reduction & Health Informatics) presented on Optimizing Care Delivery to Improve Patient Lives. Moderator: Jessica Maksut, PhD (CMS Office of Minority Health).
- Implementing Health Equity Through Value-Based Care for People in Medicare
Katy Tapp, LMSW (Commonwealth ACO); Misty Chicchirichi, RN, MSN (Shenandoah Oncology); Purva Rawal, PhD (CMS Innovation Center); Unini Odama, MD, MPH, MBE (DaVita Kidney Care); Christopher Palmer, MPA (CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality); Cindy Massuda, JD (CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality); Kari Vandergrift (CMS Center for Medicare); Lucy Bertocci (CMS Center for Medicare); and Maya Peterson, MSN, RN (CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality) presented on Implementing Health Equity Through Value-Based Care for People in Medicare. Moderators: Susan Hill, MPA, and Alexandra Bryden, MPP (CMS Office of Minority Health).
- Improving Equity in Medicaid and CHIP Maternal Health
Ellen-Marie Whelan, PhD, NP, FAAN (CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services); Gregory LaManna, MPH (Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ohio Medicaid); Kristen Zycherman, RN, BSN (CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services); Linda Jiang, MPH (Lyft); and Megan Woo, ScD, ScM (NORC at the University of Chicago) presented on Improving Equity in Medicaid and CHIP Maternal Health. Moderator: Karen Matsuoka, PhD (CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services).
- Increasing AANHPI Health Equity Through Language Access, Health Education, and Community-Based Interventions
Tuyet Tran (Southeast Asian Coalition), Ualani Hoopai (Pacific Islander Health Partnership), and Vida Lin (Asian Community Development Council) presented on Increasing AANHPI Health Equity Through Language Access, Health Education, and Community-Based Interventions. Moderator: Sharonda Everett (Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum).
- Inequity in Care Navigation: How Confusion, Complexity, and Fear Have Severe Consequences for Vulnerable Caregiver Populations
Carla Perissinotto, MD (Sabio Health); Ellen Rudy, PhD, MPH (Wellthy); and Lorena Rodriguez Chandler, MPH (Inland Empire Health Plan) presented on Inequity in Care Navigation: How Confusion, Complexity, and Fear Have Severe Consequences for Vulnerable Caregiver Populations.
- Invisible and Undercounted: Exclusion of U.S. Territories in the Pacific and Caribbean From National Datasets and Subsequent Health Equity Impacts
Alex Wheatley, MPA (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials); Daniel P. Doyle, PMP (United States Census Bureau); Jae June Lee (Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality); and Thomas Bane, PhD, LMSW (CMS Office of Program Operations & Local Engagement) presented on Invisible and Undercounted: Exclusion of U.S. Territories in the Pacific and Caribbean From National Datasets and Subsequent Health Equity Impacts. Moderator: Marina Diaz, MHSA (CMS Office of Program Operations & Local Engagement).
- Leading the Way on the Journey to Health Equity and Wellness for American Indians/Alaska Natives
Carrie Field, MPH (National Indian Health Board); Karen Matsuoka, PhD (CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services); and Susan Karol (CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services) presented on Leading the Way on the Journey to Health Equity and Wellness for American Indians/Alaska Natives. Moderator: Susan Karol, MD (CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services).
- Oral Health Throughout the Lifespan: Disparities, Challenges, and Opportunities for Improving Oral Health Access and Coverage
Astha Singhal, BDS, MPH, PhD (University of Florida College of Dentistry); Carla Shoff, PhD (CMS Office of the Administrator); Lorel Burns, DDS, MS (New York University College of Dentistry); Natalia Chalmers, DDS, MHSc, PhD (CMS Office of the Administrator; and Steffany Chamut, DDS, MPH (Harvard School of Dental Medicine) presented on Oral Health Throughout the Lifespan: Disparities, Challenges, and Opportunities for Improving Oral Health Access and Coverage. Moderator: Shondelle Wilson-Fredrick, PhD (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute).
- Outreach and Engagement: Replicable Strategies to Reduce Disparities
Cheryl Isabell (Covering Wisconsin) and Tina Marshalek (Covering Wisconsin) presented on Mini Grants, Big Impact: An Outreach Strategy to Reduce Health Coverage Disparities and Raise Awareness. Michelle Thomas, MPA, BSW (Agency on Aging) presented on Health Equity Tours to Engage Older Adults and Persons With Disabilities. Josiah Concho (Navajo Nation) and Kateri Chino (Pueblo of Acoma) presented on A Pueblo Approach to Health Equity: Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy Through a Holistic Tribal Lens. Moderator: Vacheria Keys, JD (National Association of Community Health Centers).
- Providing Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services to Persons of Limited English Proficiency, LGBTQ+ Individuals, and Muslim-Americans
Cindy Hou, DO, MA, MBA, CIC, CPHQ, CPPS, FACOI, FACP, FIDSA (Jefferson Health); Sandy Cayo, DNP, FNP-BC, FAAN (Yale Nursing); and Uzma Syed, DO, FIDSA (South Shore Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine Consultants) presented on Providing Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services to Persons of Limited English Proficiency, LGBTQ+ Individuals, and Muslim-Americans. Moderator: Alexa McKinley, JD (National Rural Health Association).
- The Role of Generative AI and Large Language Models in Enhancing Health Equity: Applications, Considerations, and Addressing CMS’ Programmatic Needs
Deelip Mhaske (National Minority Quality Forum); Kenyon Crowley, PhD, MBA, MSc, CPHIMS (Accenture Federal Services); Meagan Khau, MHA (CMS Office of Minority Health); and Ritu Agarwal, PhD (John Hopkins University) presented on The Role of Generative AI and Large Language Models in Enhancing Health Equity: Applications, Considerations, and Addressing CMS' Programmatic Needs. Moderator: Akin Demehin, MPH (American Hospital Association).
- Supportive Reentry Network HTC: A Model Approach to Care Coordination & Social Determinants of Health for Men and Women Leaving Incarceration
Angela Mecagni, LCSW (Illinois Department of Corrections); Sherie D. Arriazola Martinez, MPPA (MIMS Consulting LLC); and Sodiqa Williams, JD (Safer Foundation) presented on Supportive Reentry Network HTC: A Model Approach to Care Coordination & Social Determinants of Health for Men and Women Released From Incarceration. Moderator: Barbara Otto (Smart Policy Works).
- Using 1115 Waivers to Advance Health Equity
Katherine Rogala (Finger Lakes Performing Provider System) and Melissa Pennise, MPH (Common Ground Health) presented on Innovative Community Partnerships and Programming as Pathway to Reducing Health Disparities: New York Health Equity Reform Waiver. Kristine Nixon (True North Housing Alliance) presented on CalAIM Experience: Lessons Learned From a CBO. Katie Huber, MPH (Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy at Duke University) and William K. Bleser, PhD, MSPH (Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy at Duke University) presented on Addressing Housing-Related Social Needs Through Health Policy Authorities: Lessons from North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots. Moderator: Sweta Haldar, MSPH (Families USA).
Posters
The conference showcased 28 posters highlighting health equity research. Download the posters below.
