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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Announces Health Equity Advisory Committee, Opens Nomination of Members

On Nov. 8, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the creation of the Health Equity Advisory Committee (HEAC) and solicitation of nominations for members to be appointed to the committee by the director of the CMS Office of Minority Health.

HEAC was created to advise and make recommendations to CMS on the identification and resolution of systemic barriers to accessing CMS programs that hinder quality of care for beneficiaries and consumers. The focus of the Committee will be on health disparities in underserved communities, including communities of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, rural residents, and those impacted by persistent poverty. This includes a focus on structural racism, as it relates to all CMS programs, including but not limited to Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Health Insurance Marketplace.

Initially finalized by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on July 26, 2024, through the passing of a charter, the Committee has three main duties:

1. Enhancing the federal government’s effectiveness in understanding and promoting the consistent and systemic fair, just and impartial treatment of all individuals as outlined in the Executive Order within their health program policies.
2. Developing and implementing opportunities to increase coordination and engagement with community-based organizations.
3. Developing and implementing strategies to assess whether, and to what extent, the agency’s programs and policies perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits.

CMS is now accepting HEAC member nominations by individuals or organizations representing affected stake holders to comprise the 20–30 member team. Candidates are expected to serve a minimum two-year term and possess the technical expertise required to meet specific agency needs — including expertise from professional and lived experience — to ensure an appropriate balance of expertise and experience among the membership.

The diversity of expertise in such membership includes expertise on matters such as race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, geographic location, political status, and gender identity.

How to Apply

Each nomination must include the following information:

• A letter of nomination that contains contact information for both the nominator and nominee. One-page maximum.

• A statement from the nominee with an explanation of interest in serving on the HEAC and that they are willing to serve on the HEAC for at least two years. The nominee should also indicate which category or categories of underserved communities specified in section II.B their expertise can represent. One-page maximum.

• A resumé or curriculum vitae that indicates the nominee’s educational experience and relevant professional and/or lived experience. Two pages maximum.

• Two letters of reference that support the nominee’s qualifications for membership on the HEAC and how their educational, professional, and/or lived experience aligns with at least one or more of the five priority areas within the CMS Framework for Health Equity or one or more of the six priority areas within the CMS Framework for Advancing Health Care in Rural, Tribal and Geographically Isolated Communities. One-page maximum per letter.

To be considered, nominations must be submitted by Dec. 12, 2024, to HEAC@cms.hhs.gov. For detailed information on how to submit a nomination, please visit. the federal register notice.