Long Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program Health Equity

Health equity is defined as the attainment of the highest level of health for all people.   Everyone has a fair and just opportunity to access their optimal health regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, preferred language, or other factors that affect access to care and health outcomes. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is working to advance health equity by designing, implementing, and operationalizing policies and programs that support health for all the people served by our programs, eliminating avoidable differences in health outcomes experienced by people who are disadvantaged or underserved, and providing the care and support that our enrollees need to thrive.

CMS’ strategy to advance health equity will address the health disparities that underlie our health system through stakeholder engagement and by building this pillar into the core functions of CMS. CMS’ health equity strategy will build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the federal government, as described in President Biden’s Executive Order 13985.