In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Commission” means the Maryland Commission on Health Equity. “Health equity framework” means a public health framework through which policymakers and stakeholders in the public and private sectors use a collaborative approach to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities in the State by incorporating health considerations into decision making across sectors and policy areas. “Statewide health equity plan” means the equity plan required under a cooperative grant funding agreement with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.

There is a Maryland Commission on Health Equity.

The Commission consists of the following members: One member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; One member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House; The Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Aging, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Budget and Management, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Disabilities, or the Secretary’s designee; The State Superintendent of Schools, or the State Superintendent’s designee; The Secretary of Housing and Community Development, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Planning, or the Secretary’s designee; The Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health, or the Deputy Secretary’s designee; The Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services, or the Deputy Secretary’s designee; The Deputy Secretary for Health Care Financing, or the Deputy Secretary’s designee; The Maryland Insurance Commissioner, or the Insurance Commissioner’s designee; The Executive Director of the Health Services Cost Review Commission, or the Executive Director’s designee; The Executive Director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, or the Executive Director’s designee; The Executive Director of the Maryland Health Care Commission, or the Executive Director’s designee; The Executive Director of the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission, or the Executive Director’s designee; One representative of a local health department, designated by the Maryland Association of County Health Officers; and The following members, appointed by the Secretary with the advice of the Health Services Cost Review Commission: At least one representative of hospitals in the State; At least two individuals with experience in hospital–based population health; At least one representative of a federally qualified health center in the State; At least two representatives of community–based organizations; At least two patients from underserved communities; At least one representative of a managed care organization; At least one representative of a commercial health insurer; At least two representatives of clinicians and providers who are not affiliated with a hospital or a federally qualified health center; At least one representative from the State Rural Health Office; and At least one representative of a tribal community in the State. To the extent practicable, the members appointed to the Commission shall reflect the geographic, racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity of the State. A majority of the members present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum. Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Commission shall determine the times, places, and frequency of its meetings. The Commission shall meet at least four times each year.

The Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, and the Executive Director of the Health Services Cost Review Commission, or the Executive Director’s designee, shall cochair the Commission. A member of the Commission: May not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. The Department shall provide staff support for the Commission.

The purpose of the Commission is to: Employ a health equity framework to: Develop a statewide health equity plan; and Examine: The health of residents of the State to the extent necessary to carry out the requirements of this section; Ways for units of State and local government to collaborate to implement policies that will positively impact the health of residents of the State; and The impact of the following factors on the health of residents of the State: Access to safe and affordable housing; Educational attainment; Opportunities for employment; Economic stability; Environmental factors; Public safety, including the impact of crime, citizen unrest, the criminal justice system, and governmental policies that affect individuals who are in prison or released from prison; and Food insecurity; Provide direct advice to the Secretary and the State’s independent health regulatory commissions, and indirect advice to the Department’s senior administrators and planners through the Secretary, regarding issues of racial, ethnic, cultural, or socioeconomic health disparities; Facilitate coordination of the expertise and experience of the State’s health and human services, housing, transportation, education, environment, community development, and labor systems in developing a comprehensive health equity plan addressing the social determinants of health; and Set goals for health equity and prepare a plan for the State to achieve health equity in alignment with any other statewide planning activities. The Commission, using a health equity framework, shall: Examine and make recommendations regarding: Health considerations that may be incorporated into the decision–making processes of government agencies and private sector stakeholders who interact with government agencies; Requirements for implicit bias training for clinicians engaged in patient care and whether the State should provide the training; Training for health care providers on consistent and proper collection of patient self–identified race, ethnicity, and language data to identify disparities accurately; and Requirements to comply with, and for enforcement of, National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (CLAS Standards); Foster collaboration between units of the State and local government and develop policies to improve health and reduce health inequities; Identify measures for monitoring and advancing health equity in the State; Establish a State plan for achieving health equity in alignment with other statewide planning activities in coordination with the State’s health and human services, housing, transportation, education, environment, community development, and labor systems; Make recommendations and provide advice, including direct advice to the Secretary, on implementing laws and policies to improve health and reduce health inequities; and Develop and monitor a statewide health equity plan as required by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation under any agreement entered into between the State and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Commission may establish advisory committees to assist the Commission in the performance of its duties under this section. An advisory committee established under this subsection may include individuals who are not members of the Commission.

The Commission shall, in coordination with the Department, the Health Services Cost Review Commission, and the State designated health information exchange, establish an advisory committee to make recommendations on data collection, needs, quality, reporting, evaluation, and visualization for the Commission to carry out the purposes of this subtitle. The advisory committee shall include representatives from the State designated health information exchange. The advisory committee shall define the parameters of a health equity data set to be maintained by the State designated health information exchange, including indicators for: Social and economic conditions; Environmental conditions; Health status; Behaviors; Health care; and Priority health outcomes for monitoring health equity for racial and ethnic minority populations in the State. The data set for which parameters are defined under paragraph (3) of this subsection shall include data from: Health care facilities that report to the Health Services Cost Review Commission; Health care payers that report to the Maryland Health Care Commission; and Any other data source the advisory committee determines necessary. Data shall be reported in the aggregate if it is reported: To the public; or From the State designated health information exchange to the Commission. If the advisory committee makes a recommendation that data be made available to the public, the recommendation shall comply with applicable federal and State privacy law. The Commission may request data consistent with the recommendations of the advisory committee. Data requested by the Commission under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be provided, to the extent authorized by federal and State privacy law, to: The Commission; or The State designated exchange. The Commission may publish or provide to the public any data collected under this section consistent with the recommendations of the advisory committee established under subsection (a) of this section.

On or before December 1 each year, the Commission shall submit a report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on the activities of the Commission.