America's Health Insurance Plans: Health Insurance Providers Leading Work to Advance Health Equity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (TNSOps) -- America's Health Insurance Plans issued the following news release:

Everyone deserves affordable high-quality health coverage and care regardless of the individual qualities that make us who we are, like our race, gender, disability, or health status. For years, health insurance providers have been committed to improving health equity and combating social factors, like food insecurity and poverty, that can have a negative impact on the health of the people and communities we serve.

"Health equity is about ensuring that every American has an equal opportunity to live up to their full potential and be as healthy as possible. No one should be denied that opportunity due to any social or economic circumstances. AHIP and its members will continue to take decisive action, collaborating with our partners and other leaders until every American has an equal opportunity for good health," said Matt Eyles, AHIP President and CEO.

Health insurance providers are doing our part to improve health equity by addressing health care disparities; removing social barriers to good health; and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in health care organizations and workplaces. Here are just a few recent examples of health insurance providers in action.

Visit our health equity page (https://www.ahip.org/working-to-advance-health-equity) for more information.

Diversifying the insurance sales workforce

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has launched a new initiative to expand diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the North Carolina insurance sales workforce.

Working with local groups to reduce health inequities

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas has partnered with Time Texas, a health advocacy organization, to support local organizations and agencies across the state focused on reducing social and health inequities, especially in communities of color affected by COVID-19.

Partnering with the fire and rescue service to proactively reach underserved communities

Care Oregon, working with Portland Fire & Rescue to support the Community Health Assess & Treat (CHAT) program, which is designed to be a proactive intervention, reaching community members in their time of need with 1-on-1 support from a medical professional.

Expanding health and financial education to an underserved community

Highmark is working with the Thrive 18 project to improve health equity in Pittsburgh's North Side. The project provides residents with health education, housing advice, financial stability, and connects residents to resources that are impacting individual health.

Partnering with a local university to reduce health care barriers in underserved communities

Inland Empire Health Plan is partnering with Loma Linda University to reduce barriers to health care services in marginalized communities. Inland Empire is training a new community health workforce to accomplish this goal.

Creating a new health equity department

L.A. Care has launched a new health equity department. L.A. Care earlier implemented an Equity Council to focus on equity issues involving employees, members, and its contracted provider network and vendors.

Bringing culturally appropriate care to underserved communities

Oscar Health's Culturally Competent Care Grant program is focused on providing care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors, including tailoring delivery to meet patients' social, cultural, and linguistic needs.

Creating a health equity accreditation program

UPMC Health Plan has joined a National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) pilot program to develop a Health Equity Accreditation Plus evaluation program.

COVID-19 has shone a spotlight on the persistent discrimination and systemic racism that have served as barriers to health equity, and health insurance providers will continue their work to fight racism and improve health equity.