 | | | | Friend, welcome to Health Equity Solutions' monthly newsletter! |
| |  | | | | "Structural Inequities" Systemic disadvantage(s) of one social group compared to other groups, rooted and perpetuated through discriminatory practices (conscious or unconscious) reinforced through institutions, ideologies, representations, and policies. When this kind of inequality is related to racial/ethnic discrimination, it is referred to as systemic or structural racism. |
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| | | | Health Equity Solutions's 2025 Policy Priorities* -
Address Health-Related Social & Economic Needs: Promote policy solutions that ensure the basic needs of all residents are met to attain their optimal health. -
Advocate for Improvements in Health Care Affordability: Pursue policies that protect, restore, and promote pathways to affordable and accessible coverage options. -
Promote a Comprehensive & Integrated Health Care System: Advance access to culturally responsive and integrated care. - Advance the Implementation of Anti-Racist Policies & Practices: Ensure equity-focused policy victories are implemented with community input.
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| The next legislative session begins on Wednesday, January 8, 2024 *abbreviated. For a full breakdown: |
| | If you receive this Letter, it's REAL. Governor Lamont Announced $30 Million in Medical Debt Relief for 23,000 Connecticut Residents. Earlier this month, Governor Ned Lamont announced that nearly 23,000 Connecticut residents with medical debt will receive relief as part of a partnership with Undue Medical Debt. The partnership will eliminate up to $30 million in debt for those with low incomes or high medical expenses. No application is needed; affected residents will be notified by mail. See below for a preview of the letter, or click here. |
|  | | | | NEW!! Our 2024 Community Conversations Report! | We collaborated with community organizations and libraries to learn from Connecticut residents about the key issues they believe should be prioritized for health equity. We collected feedback from 304 residents representing diverse backgrounds and cultures across 44 towns and cities. You can read the full report here. Based on their input, the following were identified as the top priorities for advancing health equity: | | | | - Healthcare Affordability and Access (38%);
- Basic Needs (35%);
- Education (9%);
- Environmental, Social, and Systemic Challenges (7%);
- Comprehensive and Quality Care (6%);
- Self-care (4%);
- and Other (2%).
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| | General Advocacy & Outreach Update Do you need health insurance? Open Enrollment is open until January 15, 2024. Open enrollment through Access Health CT began November 1st and closes January 15th. You can shop for, compare, and enroll in or renew a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) or Stand-Alone Dental Plan (SADP) here. DACA recipients can get health insurance coverage via Access Health CT DACA recipients can now enroll in health insurance coverage through Access Health CT. They may also be eligible for Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTCs) or Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs), depending on their income, address, and household size. Connecticut's Office of Higher Education Announces a Student Loan Reimbursement Program Exciting news! The Office of Higher Education, in partnership with NELNET, is launching the Student Loan Reimbursement Program (SLRP) within the CT SCHOLARS portal. Starting January 1, 2025, applicants can create an account, complete their application, and upload the required documents for consideration. Click here to learn more about the eligibility requirements! |
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| | | HES was invited to take part in CT's new bipartisan, bicameral Prescription Drug Task Force. The Prescription Drug Task Force will tackle the rising costs of medications and address challenges in prescription drug access and pharmacy care across Connecticut. We are grateful to be a part of this initiative. Thank you, Senator Matthew Lesser, Senator Jeffrey Gordon, Representative Jillian Gilchrest, and Representative Tracy Marra! |
| Congratulations to Adriana López de Victoria, our Community Engagement & Advocacy Intern! Adriana (pictured below) was recently admitted to medical school at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus. We are so proud of her accomplishment. Congratulations, Adriana—this is truly well-deserved. |
|  | | Thank you to our recent funders! As the year comes to a close, HES extends our heartfelt gratitude to our recent funders. Your generous support empowers us to continue advancing health equity through anti-racist policies and practices. Thank you for being a vital part of our mission. We look forward to deepening our partnership in the year ahead. - Connecticut Community Foundation’s "Healing Through Policies" grant to support equity-centered policies in health systems and governance by increasing public discourse on anti-racist policies, shifting power to communities, and advancing community-driven policies to address issues such as medical debt.
- Connecticut Health Foundation's grant to support the development and implementation of "Equity-Centered Advocacy".
- William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund's grant to support advocacy and projects aimed at building 'Community Power' aligns with its shared commitment to advancing equity and justice.
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| Congratulations to Kally Moquete, our Senior Manager of Policy! Congratulations Kally (pictured below)! The state's Health Care Cabinet appointed her to serve as a member of the AHEAD Advisory Committee, which will advise the Office of Health Strategy (OHS) and the Department of Social Services (DSS) on strategies to improve health equity in Connecticut. We are proud of this appointment!  |
| | The HES Advantage is an extension of Health Equity Solutions that offers customizable, equitable consulting, facilitation, and training services to agencies, healthcare systems, and communities with a race-forward approach. |
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| | | We love to highlight the work of our partners and interesting events in the health equity neighborhood. Have content to contribute? Fill out this form. We're eager to learn about what you're working on. Know someone who might be interested in receiving our newsletter? Share this subscription link! |
| | Join FCCF for a screening of RATIFIED, a documentary on the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment. Followed by a discussion and Q&A with filmmakers, politicians, and voting rights activists. For tickets and venue details, visit: https://fccfoundation.org/event/in-community-ratified/ |
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| | | | Stay informed about the latest developments in health equity, social determinants of health, racial justice, and more! Every week, we feature relevant news articles and reports on our social media. Check out a few highlights below: |
| | | Made it this far? Thank you so much for reading our updates! We appreciate your support. If you have any questions, please email info@hesct.org. Best, HES Team |
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| | Health Equity Solutions
53 Oak Street | Hartford, Connecticut 06106
860.461.7637 | info@hesct.org |
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