The Maryland Commission on Health Equity provides guidance to the Secretary of Health and the State’s independent health regulatory commissions regarding issues of racial, ethnic, cultural, or socioeconomic health disparities, including State and local collaboration and implementation of policies and laws dedicated to reducing health disparities, improving population health, and advancing health equity across the State.
The Commission sets goals for health equity and develops a statewide health equity plan, examines the health of Maryland residents as an advisory committee, facilitates external and inter-agency partnerships, and establishes the precedent for implementing data-informed and evidence-based interventions that reduce the barriers to care, target root causes of inequities, and improve health outcomes.
MCHE is the governance structure for Maryland's work under the CMS States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model. The model is designed to improve health care quality and equity while lowering costs for all health care payers including Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers. The MCHE is required under HB 1333 to develop and monitor a State Health Equity Plan (SHEP).
Governor Moore signed the AHEAD model state agreement on November 1, 2024, making Maryland the first state to join the historic federal program.
For more information about the AHEAD Model in Maryland, visit hscrc.maryland.gov/Pages/ahead-model.aspx
