Senate committee supports $14M health equity initiative Shawna De La Rosa | Jan 28, 2021 Share this:
The bill would allow for those communities with poor health outcomes to become a HERC community and be able to compete for grants, tax incentives and health care provider loan repayment assistance to increase access to care. The bill is designed to close health inequities based on race, disability and geography. The program would be funded by a 1-cent per dollar increase in state alcohol sales tax. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Antonio Hayes. “We are grateful that Senate President Bill Ferguson and the Senate leaders are supporting legislation to expand health care to underserved communities by establishing Health Equity Resource Communities,” said Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Citizens Health Initiative. “This funding will provide the resources to get serious about closing gaps in care that have made it hard for many Marylanders, including many Black and Hispanic residents, to have good access to high-quality health care.”