AHIP Creates Website to Support Work Around Health Equity in the Health Plan World

The Washington, D.C.-based America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the main nationwide association for private health plans, on Feb. 24 announced that it has created a website designed to promote health equity. In a press release posted to its main website, the association stated on Wednesday that “Every American deserves access to affordable, high-quality care.  For far too long, discrimination and systemic racism have served as barriers to health equity for minority and underserved communities.  Health insurance providers know that ending these barriers to care is key to an equitable health care system and that work starts with listening. That’s why AHIP is pleased to launch its Health Equity Spotlight.  As part of its continued commitment to improve health equities and in honor of Black History Month, AHIP spoke with prominent leaders in health care to better understand the role health insurance providers must play in improving health equity.  These conversations lay the foundation for the work we all must do to fight racism and discrimination, both in health care and beyond.”

As the press release stated, “AHIP and its health insurance provider members will continue to listen—and to act—until every American has an equal opportunity to good health.”

The Health Equity Spotlight website’s landing page includes the statement: “We know that ending discrimination and systemic racism is essential for an equitable health care system – but addressing discrimination alone does not fully address health equity challenges.  In honor of Black History Month, we talked with several of our most prominent and distinguished leaders in health care to learn more about how we can work together to improve health equity – and what we can learn from other health care leaders. This is a seminal moment for racial and social justice and greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. We have an urgent mandate to reform our health care system so everyone in America has an equal opportunity to thrive and achieve their best health.”

Among the links posted to the Health Equity Spotlight website are links connected to AHIP’s work to address socioeconomic issues; reports on the COVID-19 pandemic’s disproportionate impact on minority communities and on addressing vaccine equity; and a report on “Bridging the Digital Divide for Consumers.”

Health plan world leaders featured on the website’s landing page include Gregory E. Deavens, president and CEO of Independence Health Group; Cain Hayes, president and CEO, Gateway Health; Sylvia B. Kelly,, president and CEO, Community Health network of Connecticut, Inc.; John Mathewson, COO, AHIP; Virgil Miller, president, AFLAC Individual Insurance; and Tunde Sotunde, M.D., president and CEO, Blue Cross North Carolina.

As described on its website, “America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) is the national association whose members provide coverage for health care and related services to hundreds of millions of Americans every day. Through these offerings, we improve and protect the health and financial security of consumers, families, businesses, communities and the nation. We are committed to market-based solutions and public-private partnerships that improve affordability, value, access, and well-being for consumers.”