The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) hosted the inaugural CMS Health Equity Conference on June 7–8, 2023, on the campus of historically Black Howard University in Washington, DC. In addition to several hundred in-person attendees, about 3,000 people attended virtually.
CMS defines health equity as “the attainment of the highest level of health for all people, where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain 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 conference was an opportunity for CMS leadership to share foundational information about current initiatives and plans for the future.
This report provides key takeaways from the conference, including plenary sessions, breakout sessions, poster presentations and specific initiatives, as CMS renews its commitment to achieve health equity.
Kayla Holgash joins the Health Policy Breakroom Podcast to discuss her time at the conference, and explores what’s being done to advance equity in healthcare and why it’s such an important initiative.
