Statement on Health Disparities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Speaker and the Senate President are united in our strong belief that we must be vigilant about the disparate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color in Massachusetts.  Members of the House and Senate have communicated to the Department of Public Health that the crisis standards of care do not adequately account for health disparities that exist as a result of inequities in the health care system and must be improved, and we agree.

We are committed to creating a response to this pandemic that protects all residents of Massachusetts while addressing treatment and outcome disparities among communities of color.  The Legislature will act to ensure a mechanism for robust data collection and establish a diversity task force to make recommendations around equitable access to care during this public health emergency.

Further, we continue policy conversations about how to anticipate which communities will be unduly affected by COVID-19 and how to respond accordingly to ensure that all populations are treated equitably during this crisis.