BOARD/COMMISSION:  Equitable Health Care Task Force

Up to 20 members appointed by the commissioner of health from metropolitan areas and greater Minnesota that include representatives of:

African American and/or African heritage communities

Asian American and Pacific Islander communities

Latina/o/x communities

American Indian communities and/or Tribal Nations

Disability communities

LGBTQIA+ communities

Organizations that advocate for the rights of individuals using the health care system

Health care providers of primary and specialty care (this includes persons who represent organizations that provide health care)

Organizations that provide health coverage in Minnesota (this includes persons who represent insurers and health maintenance organizations)

Subcommittees and workgroups established as needed. 

Desired skills and experience

(1) Ability to consider conflicting points of view and innovative next steps.

(2) Ability to lift-up the voices and perspectives of represented communities and sectors.

(3) Ability to synthesize information from a variety of sources and perspectives.

(4) Ability to respectfully communicate and collaborate with others.

(5) Demonstrated experience working to advance health equity with the communities in Minnesota that are described under the “Members” subsection.

(6) Demonstrated experience working to advance health equity in the health care delivery or payment   systems in Minnesota. 

The task force shall examine inequities in how people access and receive health care based on race or ethnicity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability and identify strategies to ensure that all Minnesotans can receive care and coverage that is respectful and ensures optimal health outcomes, to include:

(1) identifying inequities experienced by Minnesotans in interacting with the health care system that originate from or can be attributed to their race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability status;

(2) conducting community engagement across multiple systems, sectors, and communities to identify barriers for these population groups that result in diminished standards of care and foregone care;

(3) identifying promising practices to improve the experience of care and health outcomes for individuals in these population groups; and

(4) making recommendations to the commissioner of health and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative with primary jurisdiction over health policy and finance for changes in health care system practices or health insurance regulations that would address identified issues.