| |  | | | Friend, welcome to Health Equity Solutions' monthly newsletter! | | | | | | | | Please consider supporting Health Equity Week 2025 as a Sponsor! This spring marks the 7th year our organization is leveraging this backdrop to bring together community members, healthcare and academic partners, and elected officials to catalyze the justice, innovative solutions, and legislative support needed to promote the health and well-being of marginalized people and communities. Our core Health Equity Week activities include a Community Day, Advocacy Day, and dedicated press time with the media. These are accompanied by virtual conversations and call to action opportunities. Last year, HEW 2024 garnered over 6,000 social media impressions and engaged over 1,000 participants. We anticipate an even bigger campaign this year! We hope you will join us as CHAMPIONS for health equity - friends and allies in support of policies that uplift everyone and dismantle systemic racism in healthcare! Check out the Sponsorship Opportunities below and visit our HEW2025 Sponsorship page for complete details. Thank you! | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ICYMI: 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.
| | | | | | | | | | HES Executive Director Ayesha Clarke Joins Governor Lamont to Advocate for Affordable Healthcare On February 6, HES Executive Director Ayesha Clarke joined Governor Ned Lamont for a press conference where he announced a legislative package aimed at improving healthcare affordability and lowering prescription drug costs in Connecticut, including measures to credit out-of-pocket drug purchases toward insurance deductibles, cap generic drug price increases, and explore safe Canadian drug importation. In collaboration with Comptroller Sean Scanlon, he also seeks to expand the ArrayRx prescription discount program, ensuring more residents can access lower-cost medications. Learn more about the Governor's 2025 Legislative Priorities | |  | | | | | HES and Community Partners Advocate for Hospital Financial Assistance at Public Hearing Earlier this month, HES had a successful public hearing on S.B. 1192: An Act Concerning Hospital Financial Assistance. HES staff, along with community partners and supporters, submitted powerful testimony in support of the bill. Thank you all for your testimonies! | |  | | | HES and UConn Health Hosts Writing Workshop to Support Hospital Financial Assistance Bill On January 29, our Community Engagement Manager Katia and our Community Engagement & Advocacy Intern Adriana (pictured below) facilitated a testimony writing workshop in collaboration with UConn Health's Program in Applied Public Health Sciences. MPH students and other members of the UConn Health committee joined to learn about the legislative process and wrote testimony in support of the Hospital Financial Assistance bill. There's still a few more writing workshop left, join us and make your voice heard — REGISTER HERE | |  | | | Meet Your Health Equity Goals with HES Advantage 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. | |  | | | | | | | | | | | 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: | | - Yale New Haven Health Check – Postpartum Heart Care Program: February is American Heart Month! The CT Buzz WTNH sat down with Dr. Tabassum Firoz to discuss the Postpartum Heart Care program she started at Bridgeport Hospital to prevent heart disease caused by pregnancy-related complications. Click HERE to watch the video to hear more about what Dr. Firoz had to say about this life-saving initiative.
- 10 Things to Know About Medicaid: Medicaid provides essential health & long-term care coverage to 83 million low-income Americans, making up 1/5 of U.S. healthcare spending and over half of long-term care costs. Jointly funded by states & the federal government, Medicaid varies by state in coverage, costs, and access. Learn more about how potential policy changes could impact Medicaid's future.
| | | | 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 | | | | | | Health Equity Solutions
53 Oak Street | Hartford, Connecticut 06106
860.461.7637 | info@hesct.org | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
