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Health Disparities Council
Board Information
Policy Area
Health and Human ServicesPurpose
The council shall make recommendations to reduce and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in access to quality health care and in health outcomes within the commonwealth, including disparities related to breast, cervical, prostate and colorectal cancers, strokes, and heart attacks, heart disease, diabetes, infant mortality, lupus, HIV/AIDS, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. The council may consider environmental, housing and other relevant matters contributing to these disparities. The council shall make recommendations to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the health care workforce, including doctors, nurses and physician assistants.Current Chair(s)
Senator Michael Barrett, Representative Byron RushingLegal Authority
Board Members
↓↓ Sort members table by selecting table header for Member, Seat Name, Appointing Authority, or Term End Date.
| Member↓↓ | Seat Name | Appointing Authority | Term End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senator Michael Barrett | Senate Member 1 (Co-Chair) | Senate President | - |
| Dr. Monica Bharel | Commissioner, DPH, or designee | Ex Officio | - |
| Ms. Maura Healy | Attorney General, or designee | Ex Officio | - |
| Commissioner Elin M. Howe | Commissioner of Developmental Services, or designee | Ex Officio | - |
| Dr. Sara Orozco | Communities Disproportionately Affected by Health Disparities Rep 5 (SP) | Senate President | - |
| Ms. Adelaide N. Osborne | Commissioner, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, or designee | Ex Officio | - |
| Commissioner Heidi L. Reed | Commissioner, Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, or designee | Ex Officio | - |
| Senator Michael Rodrigues | Senate Member 2 | Ex Officio | - |
| Representative Byron Rushing | House Member 1 (Co-Chair) | House of Representatives | - |
| Mr. Paul A. Saner | Commissioner, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, or designee | Ex Officio | - |
| Secretary Marylou Sudders | Secretary, HHS, or designee | Ex Officio | - |
| - | House Member 2 | Ex Officio | - |
| - | House Member 3 | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Senate Member 3 | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Director, Multicultural Health in DPH, or designee | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Director, Medicaid, or designee | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Communities Disproportionately Affected by Health Disparities Rep 1 (Speaker) | House of Representatives | - |
| - | Communities Disproportionately Affected by Health Disparities Rep 2 (Speaker) | House of Representatives | - |
| - | Communities Disproportionately Affected by Health Disparities Rep 3 (Speaker) | House of Representatives | - |
| - | Communities Disproportionately Affected by Health Disparities Rep 4 (Speaker) | House of Representatives | - |
| - | Communities Disproportionately Affected by Health Disparities Rep 6 (SP) | Senate President | - |
| - | Communities Disproportionately Affected by Health Disparities Rep 7 (SP) | Senate President | - |
| - | Communities Disproportionately Affected by Health Disparities Rep 8 (SP) | Senate President | - |
| - | American Cancer Society MA Division, Inc. Rep | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Boston Medical Center Corporation Rep | Ex Officio | - |
| - | American Heart Association MA Affiliate, Inc. Rep | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Massachusetts Public Health Association Rep | - | - |
| - | MA General Hospital Rep | - | - |
| - | Brigham and Women's/Faulkner Hospitals, Inc. | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Inc. Rep | Ex Officio | - |
| - | MA League of Community Health Centers, Inc. Rep | - | - |
| - | MA Medical Society Rep | - | - |
| - | MA Hospital Association Rep | - | - |
| - | Boston Public Health Commission Rep | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Springfield Health Department Rep | - | - |
| - | Worcester Health Department Rep | - | - |
| - | MA School Nurse Organization, Inc. Rep | - | - |
| - | MA Association of Public Health Nurses, Inc. Rep | Ex Officio | - |
| - | MA Association of Health Plans, Inc. Rep | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc. Rep | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Programs to Eliminate Health Disparities at the Harvard School of Public Health Rep | - | - |
| - | Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Inc. Rep | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Disability Policy Consortium Inc. Rep | Ex Officio | - |