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CMS’s recent integration of health equity into its new and existing value-based payment (VBP) programs (as outlined below) signals a strong commitment to equitable care delivery. We expect health equity to be incorporated into additional federal programs and for private payers to follow CMS’s example in designing their own plans for managing the diverse needs of rural, multicultural, high-need, or otherwise historically underinvested populations.
Considering these changes, healthcare stakeholders should evaluate their current capabilities for tracking and managing health equity and prepare a strategy to address the social needs of their respective populations. Federal programs often reward early adopters before phasing in mandated policies, so organizations who move proactively can benefit from first-mover advantages and prepare to avoid future penalties.