WE ACT for Environmental Justice is working to achieve health equity by creating a bi-directional understanding between hospitals, community-based organizations (CBOs), and community members about how to focus on health prevention and address the social determinants of health. WE ACT has developed multi-tiered plan designed to advocate for the enhanced use of hospital community benefits (HCB) dollars so that HCB activities can best meet the health disparities of our communities most in need.
Here is the summary of our plan: (link to PDF).
Our work on hospital community benefits commenced with a symposium held in Spring 2018 that brought together hospital representatives, expert researchers, policymakers, elected officials, community-based organizations, and local residents to better understand current policy structures and mandates guiding the Hospital Community Benefit Program required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and reinforced under the Patient Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA).
Below are links to PDFs of the Spring 2018 symposium program guide as well as several of the presentations.
WE ACT Symposium Guide: (link to PDF)
WE ACT Overview Presentation: (link to PDF)
Maureen Byrnes, Lead Research Scientist, George Washington School of Public Health, Presentation: (link to PDF)
Amir Bassiri, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, and Isaac Michaels, Health Program Coordinator, NYSDOH Office of Public Health Practice, Presentation: (link to PDF)
Andrew E. Olson, Social Innovation Specialist, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, Presentation: (link to PDF)