The U.S. is one of the most diverse countries with individuals from different ethnic backgrounds. Consequently, there is a possibility of systemic discrimination against Americans who come from minority communities. Recent developments have shown increased racial discrimination within the criminal justice system. Additionally, minor groups including the Black community have been continuously segregated within American social institutions. The Biden administration is committed to ensuring that civil rights such as health equity are available to all Americans in equal measure. The Health and Human Services (HHS) equity action plan outlines various actions to promote social equity for the Black community.
Social diversity is crucial for economic growth and development, and it is upon the government to promote equity in public institutions. African Americans have historically been subjected to racial discrimination (Llamas & Joyce, 2022). The trend has been observed in the country’s health organizations and related institutions. While the previous regimes failed to address the need for advanced health equity, the Biden administration is dedicated to reversing the trend. Therefore, the HHS Equity Action Plan will benefit the Black community in the U.S. The plan addresses five areas fundamental in promoting diversity, lives, and livelihoods of Black Americans: Civil rights protection and language access, acquisitions, grantmaking, capacity building, and maternal mortality.
The U.S. is described as civilized due to its capacity to respect civil rights and other constitutional provisions. HHS intends to improve access to language services for Americans with limited English proficiency. Given the challenges faced by the Black community, the majority of them have difficulty interpreting the information available on public platforms (Alexander et al., 2022). The plan will improve the Black community’s access to Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs, by allowing meaningful and effective information interpretation. Economic empowerment is crucial for the Black community since it enables them to access procurement opportunities (Tang, 2020). Through the acquisition, Black community business owners are trained to navigate agency requirements, points of contact, and available services.
Funding through grants is a great way of enhancing diversified economic development. While the U.S. is known for many granting services, the Black community has least benefitted from them. HHS plans to increase diversity among grantees for equitable economic growth and development. The plan will implement internal guidance on incorporating equity considerations into funding opportunities’ notice (Llamas & Joyce, 2022). Additionally, HHS will provide technical assistance to potential applicants and ensure that federal funds are available to the Black community. The HHS Action Plan will boost educational and business activities among the Black community in the U.S.
Human well-being is significant in promoting social and economic growth. Consequently, the HHS Action Plan has considered the capacity building of the health programs as a key priority. The plan intends to promote equity assessments in its programs, including Medicare and Medicaid (Llamas & Joyce, 2022). Upon assessment, it will be easy to determine barriers to equitable federal health benefits. In the quest for American well-being, the plan will address maternal mortality which has been on the rise due to inaccessible health services. HHS Action Plan allows the Office on Women’s Health and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to partner and seek innovative ways that improve postpartum care for the Black community and other minorities. Implementing the HHS Action Plan will be beneficial to the Blacks in the U.S.
The Biden administration will make a hallmark of in equitable access to public resources and services by implementing the HHS Action Plan. The government will enhance diversity by allowing the Black community to access information, funds, and health services through the plan. Although the community has been historically prejudiced against its race, the HHS Action Plan will see that to an end. Therefore, the HHS Action Plan is socially and economically beneficial since it helps reduce barriers to accessing funds and health services for Blacks in the U.S.
References
Alexander, K., Oliver, S., Bennett, S. G., Henry, J., Hepburn, K., Clevenger, C., & Epps, F. (2022). “Falling between the cracks”: Experiences of Black dementia caregivers navigating U.S. health systems. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 70(2), 592–600. Web.
Llamas, A., & Joyce, D. (2022). Biden administration outlines comprehensive equity action initiatives. California Health Care Foundation. Web.
Tang, C. S. (2020). Innovative technology and operations for alleviating poverty through women’s economic empowerment. Production and Operations Management. Web.