The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is inviting patients and their families, providers, clinicians, consumer advocates, healthcare professional associations, individuals serving underserved communities and all CMS stakeholders serving populations facing disparities in health and healthcare to submit public comments by November 4.

CMS is asking for public input on accessing healthcare and related challenges, understanding provider experiences, advancing health equity and assessing the impact of waivers and flexibilities provided in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

In gathering feedback related to challenges and opportunities to embed in its health equity efforts, encourage innovation and reduce burdens and inefficiencies, CMS hopes to better understand health-related needs at the individual and community-levels.

Advancing health equity is core CMS work, according to the agency's administrator, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.

"Health equity is embedded within the DNA of CMS and serves as the lens through which we view all of our work," she said in the agency's announcement, "Request for Information, Make Your Voice Heard: Promoting Efficiency and Equity Within CMS Programs."

The agency requests information related to strategies that succeed in addressing drivers of health inequities and opportunities to address social determinants of health and the challenges underserved communities face accessing comprehensive care.

CMS is also seeking information on the factors impacting provider wellness and healthcare workers, as well as the impact of CMS policies, like how it will manage the enforcement of the comprehensive good faith estimate requirement in the No Surprises Act, documentation and reporting requirements, operations and communications on provider experiences.

Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication.