The Department of Health and Human Services today hosted the first daylong HHS Black Health Summit in Washington, D.C., where department officials highlighted federal, state and local efforts to eliminate health disparities and HHS resources to help advance health equity.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra welcomed attendees and heralded the Biden Administration’s progress boosting Affordable Care Act enrollment and vaccine uptake among communities of color. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., author of comprehensive maternal health legislation, discussed efforts to reduce Black maternal mortality and morbidity. Additionally, Miriam Delphin-Rittman, administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and Keisha Lance Bottoms, senior advisor to the president for public engagement, emphasized the importance of faith-based and other community partnerships in eradicating stigma and improving access to mental health treatment.   

The event concluded with a grants workshop featuring representatives from eight HHS agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, Administration for Children and Families, and Health Resources and Services Administration.  
 
In recognition of Black History Month, AHA and its Institute for Diversity and Health Equity are providing social media assets that hospitals and health systems can use to highlight Black contributions to health care and urge continued action to address existing inequities.  

Related News Articles

Headline
The AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity’s newly released infographic highlights the importance of leveraging community collaborations to achieve…
Headline
In this conversation, three experts from Boston Medical Center discuss the development of its Health Equity Accelerator, the partnerships needed to sustain the…
Headline
The AHA's Institute for Diversity and Health Equity is seeking applicants by Jan. 10 for its 10-month Executive Certificate in Diversity and Health Equity…
Headline
In this conversation, Terry Scoggin, CEO of Titus Regional Medical Center, discusses how the organization designed a system of care to ensure that every…
Headline
The Department of Health and Human Services Dec. 11 published a final rule implementing provisions related to the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common…
Headline
In this conversation, Jennifer Richards, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Center for Indigenous Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and…