Carlessia A. Hussein, RN, Dr PH¹, The Honorable Shirley Nathan-Pulliam², and LaVeda E.D. Bacetti¹. (1) Cigarette Restitution Fund Program, Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 201 W. Preston Street, Room 500, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-767-7117, husseinc@dhmh.state.md.us, (2) Maryland House of Delegates, District 10, Lowe House Office Building, 84 College Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401-1991

Whereas nationally, racial and ethnic minorities reportedly experience a lower quality of health care services and are less likely to receive routine medical procedures compared to White Americans. In Maryland, one bill aimed at reducing health care disparities, the “Health Care Disparities Prevention Act” passed the legislature in 2003. This Bill evolved out of work with community minority groups that advocated for legislative action by the State. The Bill placed primary responsibility for implementation within the state’s Health Department. A participatory planning process is being used to engage health systems decision-makers and key minority interest groups. Public/ private and community-academic partnerships are underway to develop model curricula for health professional schools, to examine continuing education requirements on the inclusion of health disparities, cultural competency, literacy and sensitivity and to provide for a coordinated statewide plan to reduce disparities. Legislative officials can play a critical role in the development and maintenance of statewide initiatives to ensure equal access to health care for all.

Learning Objectives:

Through attendance of this presentation, participants (
• will learn the process required to introduce and enact legislation to work toward the elimination of disparate health care service delivery among historically underrepresented minorities; and (
• will be able to launch an implementation strategy that incorporates community participatory planning.

Keywords: Minority Health, Public Health Legislation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

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