BLK in Health Newsletter

BLK in HEALTH

Join BLK in HEALTH, a vibrant community of Black professionals in the healthcare innovation ecosystem, as we come together to harness our collective power and drive positive change in our communities. Together, we aim to make a significant impact on Black equity by identifying strategic opportunities to leverage our expertise and drive practical changes in our spaces. Through engaging conferences, networking opportunities, and collaboration, we strive to create an active community of healthcare professionals committed to making a difference.

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Thank You For Joining BLK @ ViVE!

We'd like to extend a thank you to everyone who was able to attend our BLK @ ViVE reception in March! It was wonderful to connect with you all.

If you would like to update your contact in the BLK in HLTH database,?click here.

To view photos from the reception,?click here.

Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act is a comprehensive legislative package designed to address the maternal health crisis in the United States, with a particular focus on the high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity experienced by Black women.

The Momnibus Act includes 12 bills that aim to improve maternal health outcomes by addressing a range of issues, including access to maternal care and services, the social determinants of health, maternal mental health, and data collection and research.

Health Tech for Medicaid has been a leading voice in sexual, reproductive and maternal health for Medicaid members since our inception.?Our collective advocacy plays a crucial role in supporting the goals of the Momnibis Act, with simple requests like leveraging innovative technologies and data analytics to improve access to care, track health outcomes, and identify at-risk patients.

For example, telehealth services can improve access to care for women living in rural or underserved areas, while mobile health apps and wearable devices can help women track their health status and identify potential health risks. Health tech solutions can also leverage data analytics to identify patterns and trends in maternal health outcomes, enabling policymakers to target resources and interventions where they are needed most.

Overall, the Momnibus Act represents a critical step forward in addressing the maternal health crisis in the United States, and Health Tech for Medicaid can play a key role in supporting these efforts.

Join us in supporting the Momnibus Act!?Let Health Tech for Medicaid know if you want to collaborate with us at?[email protected].

Click here?for more information.

Highlighting BLK in HLTH Members

Climbing the Corporate Mountain as a Professional of Color

BLK in HLTH member,?Dr. Errol L Pierre , recently published the book, "The Way Up: Climbing the Corporate Mountain as a Professional of Color," an actionable guide to help underrepresented individuals from all ethnic backgrounds achieve their professional goals and elevate their careers in today's virtual workplace.

On?May 15th, from?3pm - 4pm EST, join Dr. Pierre for a virtual conversation as he reflects on?his personal journey,?discusses the skills and strategies required to move from entry-level and middle management roles to the executive ranks, and has a conversation with Dr. Sachin Jain, President and CEO of SCAN Group & Health Plan discussing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Learn more here?and?register for the event here.

Addressing Healthcare Disparities

According to a?report?by?Ernst & Young, despite over $179 billion spent over the past 20 years to address healthcare disparities in the United States, little progress has been made towards closing healthcare gaps for different racial and ethnic groups.

Dr. Yele Aluko MD, MBA, FACC, FSCAI. , BLK in HLTH member, EY's Chief Medical Officer and co-author of the report,?highlighted several barriers that have impeded progress in achieving health equity. In?an interview with Becker's Hospital Review, he discussed how the lack of a unified call to action and insufficient workforce to execute initiatives are among the factors contributing to the stagnation of health equity.

Dr. Aluko emphasized the importance of a consistent approach to addressing health equity: "It's really about having a consistent approach and accountability for everyone, whether it's the funders, healthcare organizations, or the reporters. It's really understanding what we're trying to achieve, what the current impact is, and then setting a path forward that everyone can rally behind."

Dr. Aluko also commented on the need to prioritize investments in social determinants of health: "We have to understand that health equity is not just about healthcare. It's about the social determinants of health, including education, housing, employment, and transportation. It's about investing in these social determinants and making sure that everyone has access to them."

"A lot of invested money is being invested into initiatives and processes and people are busy doing stuff. But the gap hasn't closed. We need to ask why," Dr. Aluko said. "Organizations should not conflate activity with actionable success."

BLK in HLTH Members chosen for Aspen Institute Health Innovators Fellowship!

Congratulations to our BLK in HLTH members who were recently chosen to join?the?Aspen Institute Health Innovators Fellowship’s sixth class!

Kameron Matthews,?Joneigh Khaldun,?Nzinga Harrison,?Edmondo Robinson, and?Marcus Whitney?will embark on a two-year Fellowship that will strengthen their leadership and challenge them to develop new approaches to improve the health and wellbeing of Americans.

Want to get your BLK events to this group?

Do you have an event that you would like us to promote to the BLK in HLTH community? Please complete the form below for your event to be shared in this newsletter and other channels.

Do you have an event that you would like us to promote to the BLK in HLTH community? Please complete the form below for your event to be shared in this newsletter and other channels.

BLK in Health Event Promotion Form

The State of Black Medicaid

An infographic on the State of Black Medicaid by Health Tech for Medicaid (HT4M)?was released at HLTH 2022, detailing the challenges that Black Medicaid beneficiaries face. Attention must be paid to Medicaid's current state?in order to meet the basic medical requirements of Black Americans and to provide collective solutions. Despite the Affordable Care Act's adoption in 2010, which increased Black Americans' access to healthcare, we continue to experience inequities in care delivery, access, affordability and standard of care.

The State of Black Medicaid Infograph