The Shirley Nathan-Pulliam Health Equity Act of 2021 established the Maryland Commission on Health Equity (MCHE). The mandate outlined in the legislation requires the MCHE to:
Employ a “health equity framework”
Provide advice on issues of racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic health disparities
Facilitate coordination of expertise and experience in developing a comprehensive health equity plan to address the social determinants of health
Set goals for health equity and prepare a plan for the State to achieve health equity in alignment with other statewide planning activities
House Bill 1333 (HB1333) was introduced in the Maryland General Assembly in February 2024 in an effort to broaden the scope of the MCHE and align it with the governance requirements of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation’s AHEAD Model. Governor Wes Moore signed the bill on May 16, 2024.
Effective October 1, 2024, HB1333 requires the MCHE, using a health equity framework, to develop and monitor a “statewide health equity plan” as required by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) under any agreement entered into between the State and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
HB1333 mandates include the following:
MCHE must coordinate with the MDH and the HSCRC when establishing an advisory committee
Repeals the requirement that the Governor designate the MCHE chair
Expands the purpose of MCHE and alters its duties and membership
Alters reporting requirements for and extends the termination date of the Commission on Public Health (CPH)
The MCHE serves as the model governance structure required under AHEAD and informs all model activities. 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
