Health equity
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 Orders 13985 and 14091.
How can CMS address health equity?
CMS programs cover more than 160 million people across the country through the 3Ms - Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Marketplace. In short, CMS provides health coverage to 1 in 2 Americans.
CMS programs are critical to ensuring all Americans have access to quality health care. Our goal is to ensure that every person has the opportunity to access the care they seek at an affordable cost.
These programs distribute substantial funding throughout the U.S. health care system annually and CMS provides quality oversight for most hospitals, health systems, health care facilities and providers across the country.
The following are examples of how CMS programs are moving the needle on health equity:
How is CMS working to address health equity?
CMS is working to advance health equity by designing, implementing, and operationalizing policies and programs that support health for all people served by our programs by incorporating the perspective of lived experiences and integrate safety net providers and community-based organizations into our programs. Together this work will eliminate avoidable differences in health outcomes experienced by people who are disadvantaged or underserved and providing the care and support that people need to thrive.
Health Equity at CMS: Equity is in Every Pillar
All of CMS’s work is organized and managed along six strategic pillars that promote the establishment of broad programmatic goals. CMS is building health equity into each of its strategic pillars with the goal of improving the health care experience and outcomes of the communities we serve. The following section details key actions undertaken at CMS to advance health equity.