Massachusetts Addresses Cancer Disparities with Permanent Office of Health Equity

With the stroke of his pen, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker last month signed into law a decade-long effort toward improving health equity in the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts 2019 state budget includes a policy provision seeking to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities across the state. This accomplishment is the culmination of an over ten-year campaign and partnership by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and members of the Disparities Action Network (DAN) coalition.

Despite notable advances in cancer prevention, screening and treatment, not all communities are benefitting equally from this important progress. Cancer incidence and mortality rates are disproportionately higher in racial and ethnic minority populations, a result of various factors including limited access to health insurance and social inequity. The consequences of such disparities are that diseases like cancer are more often diagnosed at later stages when options for treatment, as well as odds for survival, may be decreased.  

The initiative passed by the Massachusetts legislature takes an essential step toward improving health outcomes for all individuals with cancer and other serious diseases. The law creates a permanent Office of Health Equity within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, overseen by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The office will oversee all activities of the Commonwealth to eliminate health disparities through coordinating interagency initiatives, evaluating interventions and identifying and replicating successful practices across the state.

Massachusetts has long worked to address the health disparities gap in its state. In 2004, the Massachusetts legislature created the “Commission to End Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities,” charged with examining the racial, ethnic and linguistic disparities in health and providing an action plan for the state to address these disparities. In 2007, the Commission released its final report containing recommendations including the creation of an Office of Health Equity, which came to fruition on July 26 of this year. Years of perseverance by public health advocates have led to this significant win for residents of the Commonwealth, including cancer patients, survivors and those at risk of developing the disease.

It is essential that we find ways to ensure that every resident of the United States has equitable access to quality, affordable health care and equal opportunity to live a healthy life. I’m proud of the enduring effort of our team in Massachusetts and their partners to address health disparities in the Commonwealth, and I know that this achievement provides a stepping stone for many more years of dedicated work to improve health equity.