New CMS Health Equity Advisory Committee Accepting Nominations for Membership 

CMS is excited to announce the establishment of a new federal advisory committee, the Health Equity Advisory Committee (HEAC). The committee has been announced in the federal register to notify the public of its establishment and the nomination process for membership on the committee.

Click here to view the Federal Register notice.

What is a Federal Advisory Committee?

The Federal Government has long recognized the important role of the public in developing effective policies. Advisory committees are a way of ensuring public and expert involvement and advice in Federal decision-making. For more information on CMS Federal Advisory Committees, please visit the CMS Federal Advisory Committee page.

What is the Health Equity Advisory Committee?

The Committee is established to advise and make recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the identification and resolution of systemic barriers to accessing CMS programs that hinder quality of care for beneficiaries and consumers. The Committee will also serve as a dedicated platform for CMS collaboration with key interested persons to advance health equity by identifying how CMS can promote quality and access for beneficiaries of all CMS programs.  The Committee will focus on health disparities in underserved communities, which are populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, such as but not limited to Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality as defined in Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.

Who will serve on the Health Equity Advisory Committee? 

The Committee shall consist of 20-30 individuals who will serve at least a 2-year term. These members should have experience working with underserved communities which are populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, such as but not limited to Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality as defined in Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.

Members should be knowledgeable in the fields of health equity; outreach to underserved populations; community/safety net providers; disability policy and access; and other relevant health equity matters that are presented or addressed by the agency. The Committee may also be comprised of Special Government Employees and Representative Members.  A Chair and Co-Chair will be appointed from the members.

What type of nominations are accepted?  

CMS will consider qualified individuals who are nominated by individuals or organizations representing affected stakeholders.  Any interested person or organization may nominate one qualified individual.  Self-nominations are not allowed but you may have a member of your care team, religious leader, colleague, community-based organization, or other partner nominate you. To ensure a nomination is considered, CMS must receive all the nomination information at the email address HEAC@cms.hhs.gov by December 12, 2024.

Each nomination must include the following information:

  • A letter of nomination that contains contact information for both the nominator and nominee. One-page maximum.
  • A statement from the nominee that they are willing to serve on the HEAC for at least a 2-year time period and an explanation of interest in serving on the HEAC. The nominee should also indicate which category or categories of underserved communities specified in section II.B their expertise can represent.  One-page maximum.
  • A resumé or curriculum vitae that indicates the nominee’s educational experience and relevant professional and/or lived experience. Two-pages maximum.
  • Two letters of reference that support the nominee’s qualifications for participation in the HEAC and how their educational, professional, and/or lived experience aligns with at least one or more of the 5 priority areas within the CMS Framework for Health Equity or one or more of the 6 priority areas within the CMS Framework for Advancing Health Care in Rural, Tribal and Geographically Isolated Communities. Please choose only one framework to align the nominee’s experience with a CMS priority area.  One-page maximum per letter.

Questions? For more information, please visit the HEAC webpage or email HEAC@cms.hhs.gov. Please also be sure to review the federal register notice.