Today the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced a new partnership with Point32Health Foundation and Health Care For All (HCFA) as part of the administration’s Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts (AHEM) initiative, which works to eliminate racial, economic and regional disparities in health outcomes in 30 communities across the state, with a focus on maternal health and social drivers of cardiometabolic health.
Health Care For All received a $920,000 grant from the Point32Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan. The funds support Health Care For All’s operations in coalition building, collaboration and policy work in Brockton, Lawrence and Lowell over the next five years.
“Massachusetts has the best health care system in the country, but we need to make sure that everyone can access and afford the care they need,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This program will help us get directly into communities and meet people where they are, so that we can work together to improve maternal health and heart health. We’re grateful to our partners at Point32Health Foundation and Health Care For All for making this possible.”
“We know that each of our communities face unique challenges and circumstances every day, and I admire the work of AHEM to drill down to the specific circumstances that have led to the health outcomes we see today,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “With the help from Point32Health and HCFA, we will be able to further improve the lives of people in Brockton, Lawrence and Lowell and use the data collected in the community to help the people who live there.”
“We’re grateful to HCFA and Point32Health for taking on this new challenge and for their continued partnership for a healthy Massachusetts,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh. “Through their efforts, they will help us drill down to find and address the roadblocks these communities face when it comes to cardiometabolic and maternal health, and I look forward to working with them as we find solutions to improve health outcomes for these communities.”
“By investing in HCFA, we are purposefully engaging with community stakeholders in solutions to help break down barriers that limit access to health care,” said Kristin Lewis, executive vice president of Point32Health and President of the Point32Health Foundation. “Together we can create opportunities to better respond to changing priorities and help improve health outcomes.”
Health Care For All will also partner with key local government agencies to collect and share data on maternal health and the impact of social determinants on cardiometabolic disease to better understand local health outcomes. Cardiometabolic disease, which refers to disease of the heart and blood vessels, diabetes, high blood pressure, and chronic kidney disease, is a leading cause of death across Massachusetts. Health Care For All will work with the community to develop possible interventions that address both immediate concerns and long-term systemic issues. Each community will determine how to address challenges, and vet possible interventions like increasing access to healthy food or improving implementation of maternal health care policies at the local level.
“Health Care For All is incredibly grateful for the support of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Point32Health Foundation. It is an honor to be included in the mission of AHEM, which, like Health Care For All, believes health care should be accessible to all,” said Amy Rosenthal, executive director of Health Care For All. “Through intentional community engagement, we will identify gaps and develop tangible solutions to address social determinants of health and improve equitable access to care for residents of Brockton, Lawrence and Lowell.”
“The City of Brockton is thrilled to be partnering with the Healey-Driscoll Administration to make long-term improvements to support the health outcomes of our residents,” said Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan. “The residents within our ‘City of Champions’ deserve to play a role in the policies that inform their healthcare and we look forward to working collaboratively alongside Health Care For All to make these exciting improvements a reality.”
“I welcome the partnership between the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Point32Health Foundation, and Health Care for All,” said Lawrence Mayor Brian A. DePeña. “We thank Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health for their commitment to promoting equity in aging and social justice. This collaboration presents a valuable opportunity for Lawrence to enhance access to healthcare services, address social determinants of health, and empower our community to advocate for its own well-being.”
“We are grateful to be part of this partnership that represents a powerful investment in the health and well-being of our residents,” said Lowell City Manager Thomas A. Golden, Jr. “With the support from Point32Health Foundation and HCFA, Lowell will be better positioned to strengthen access to quality health care and improve health outcomes. We thank the administration for their dedication and commitment to healthier futures for communities like ours through the AHEM initiative.”
The partnership with Point32Health and Health Care For All is one of many partnerships AHEM seeks to create with the private sector partners to address health inequities. For more information about AHEM, visit the website.