PA Gov. Rendell Sets Up “Office of Health Equity”

PA Gov. Ed Rendell is getting quite active on health policy in a number of positive ways. His health access expansion initiative is getting beaten up in the Legislature, but it’s a good plan and a good starting point for a state that has never been active in this arena. Now he’s setting up an Office of Health Equity to develop a comprehensive approach to eliminate racial and ethnic (and other) health disparities. He’s also launching a statewide chronic illness initiative. Click here for the Governor’s two executive orders.

Here in Massachusetts, HCFA and other organizations part of the Disparities Action Network have proposed setting up an Office for Health Equity within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to coordinate and lead MA activities to address disparities.

C’mon Massachusetts. Let’s not get shown up by Pennsylvania.