Achieving Health Equity Through Access to Quality Services

On the 30th anniversary of the Report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Black and Minority Health (also known as the Heckler Report), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recognizes the far-reaching impact of this landmark publication. Put forth by the Secretary’s Task Force on Black and Minority Health, the Heckler Report, illustrated the “…state of knowledge that contributes to the health status of Blacks, Hispanics, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans” – a first of its kind report by the U.S. government on the study of racial and ethnic minority health. In essence, the Heckler Report set the precedent for greater attention to the persistent health disparities experienced by minority Americans.

Increasing the nation’s knowledge of the health status of minorities is a matter inherent to HRSA’s mission as the agency continues to improve health and achieve health equity through access to quality services, a skilled health workforce, and other innovative programs that reach vulnerable populations. Whether directly or indirectly, the priorities of the Heckler Report are reflected across all HRSA programs which aim to reduce health disparities and promote diversity in the health care workforce; provide high quality, culturally appropriate health care services; deliver comprehensive public health services; and support a wide variety of technical assistance, outreach and other support services focused on underserved populations.

The Office of Health Equity (OHE) within HRSA is one of eight Offices of Minority Health across HHS and the National Institutes of Health, all of which grew out of recommendations from the Heckler Report. OHE serves as the principle advisor and coordinator for special needs of minority and disadvantaged populations and spearheads collaboration to enhance the attention on the current health status of minority Americans, as well as identify innovative approaches to address their health care needs. Through collaborations with other program offices, HRSA continues to focus on driving the needle in the right direction to achieve health equity.

To support HRSA’s strategic goal to Improve Health Equity, the Office of Planning, Analysis and Evaluation (OPAE), Office of Health Equity (OHE), and HRSA Learning Institute (HLI) convened a small group of HRSA employees to strengthen their public health competency in health equity. The group piloted a web-based course called Roots of Health Inequity designed to help the public health workforce explore the root causes of inequity in the distribution of disease, illness and death.

The Roots pilot groups are part of an approved activity under the agency-level National Organizations for State and Local Officials (NOSLO) cooperative agreement awarded to the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). HRSA is introducing the Roots of Health Inequity course to employees to strengthen their public health competency in health equity and take greater action to address health disparities across the country.

Opportunities to fund these types of health and human services would not have been possible without a concerted effort to tackle health equity head on – made possible in part by the Heckler Report and the monumental changes in research, policy, programs and legislation it helped spur to ensure a healthier tomorrow for future generations.

Michelle Allender-Smith, RN, BSN, MS, is the Director of the HRSA Office of Health Equity.