Health Equity

Dr. Cameual Wright

I am proud to work for a company that is committed to achieving health equity for all of our members. It is important that we, as a health care company, understand and work to eliminate factors, such as the social determinants of health, that can make an individual at risk for poorer health outcomes. By championing health equity, we are truly able to make a lasting difference in the lives of our members and the communities that we serve.

-Dr. Cameual Wright, Vice President, Health Equity and Advocacy Team, Committee Chair

Health Equity Commitment

Health Equity is defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as the attainment of the highest level of health for all people. Everyone has a fair and just opportunity to access their optimal health regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, preferred language, or other factors that affect access to care and health outcomes.

At HAP CareSource, we are dedicated to the communities we serve, and to making a positive impact in the lives of our members through the elimination of health disparities, supporting health equity initiatives and partnering with community stakeholders to carry out this work.

It is through a collective effort to understand the diverse values, belief systems, cultures, linguistic needs, and socioeconomic barriers of our members that we are able to make lasting improvements in health equity.

We are champions of health equity and improved outcomes for those who entrust us with their care.

Provider Responsibilities

Providers are expected to deliver services in a culturally competent manner, which includes removing all language barriers, accommodating the unique ethnic, cultural and social needs of the member and understand that social determinants of health are recognized as significant contributors to member outcomes and quality of life.

HAP CareSource adheres to the National Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Standards (CLAS).

The United States Department of Health and Human Services defines Cultural Humility as the “reflective process of understanding one’s biases and privileges, managing power imbalances, and maintaining a stance that is open to others in relation to aspects of their cultural identity that are most important to them.”

HAP CareSource encourages our employees and providers to practice cultural humility through self-reflection, including awareness of our beliefs, values, and implicit biases, recognizing that cultural competency requires ongoing learning from those whose beliefs and experiences differ from our own, respecting the other person’s identity and acknowledging that each of us is the sole expert on ourselves.

Think Cultural Health: CLAS, Cultural Competency and Cultural Humility

Trainings and Resources

We recognize our responsibility to provide educational resources that support our providers’ and other community partners’ ability to deliver effective and culturally competent care, helping us reach our goal to reduce and ultimately eliminate the disparities in health care that adversely affect our members. See below for FREE training opportunities.

Together, let’s make health care fair and accessible for all!

Get Rewarded for Your Commitment to Health Equity

Earn continuing education credits when you participate in the free activities made available to HAP CareSource providers through HAP CareSource’s partnership with CME Outfitters.

Visit the Diversity and Inclusion Hub to begin taking actionable steps toward mitigating racial health care disparities and earn 10+hours of free CME/CE credit!

Additional Resources:

• CMS Webinars and Trainings
• Office of Minority Health: Cultural Competency Resources

Interested in what else CareSource is doing to address health disparities? Visit the Health Equity Newsroom to learn more.