HIMSSCast: The role of local public policy in healthcare – Healthcare Finance News

Report on Baltimore’s Policy Initiatives to Advance Health Equity and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Aligning Local Policy with Global Health Objectives

In Baltimore, local policy and legislative efforts are being directed to address significant health disparities, directly contributing to the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, Chair of the Public Health and Environment Committee, is leading initiatives aimed at achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Drawing on a background that includes the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services, Councilwoman Porter is leveraging her position to ensure municipal policies effectively address systemic health issues within the city.

The Black Maternal Health Agenda: Targeting SDG 3 and SDG 5

A primary focus of these efforts is the modernization of maternal health data, formalized through the Black Maternal Health Agenda launched in January. This initiative, led by organizations such as Baltimore Healthy Start and B’more for Healthy Babies, confronts the disproportionately high rates of infant morbidity and mortality among Black mothers and children, a critical barrier to achieving health equity.

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The agenda directly addresses Target 3.1 (reduce the global maternal mortality ratio) and Target 3.2 (end preventable deaths of newborns and children) by seeking to understand and rectify the root causes of these disparate outcomes.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): By focusing on the health and safety of mothers, the initiative promotes the well-being of women, a fundamental aspect of gender equality and empowerment.

Leveraging Governance and Finance to Reduce Inequalities (SDG 10 & SDG 16)

The Baltimore City Council utilizes its governance role and control over a $4.2 billion budget to create policies that directly combat the inequalities observed in public health. This strategic allocation of resources and legislative focus exemplifies the principles of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which calls for effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels. By ensuring that municipal policies are designed to correct disparities, the Council actively works towards the core mission of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), which is to ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome.

Strategic Challenges and Collaborative Solutions for SDG Achievement (SDG 17)

Achieving these health equity goals requires overcoming several systemic challenges. The following areas have been identified as critical priorities for progress:

1. Gaps in Care Coordination: Efforts are focused on improving the integration of health services beyond addressing social determinants of health.
2. Data Interoperability: A significant concern is the lack of seamless information sharing between different healthcare providers, such as Women and Infants Centers and hospitals, which impedes coordinated care.
3. Service Alignment: There is a recognized need to better align primary and specialty care to provide more cohesive patient pathways.
4. Data-Driven Policymaking: Making complex health data understandable for legislators is essential for crafting effective, evidence-based policies.

Addressing these challenges relies on multi-stakeholder collaboration, a principle central to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The partnership with HIMSS to gather and interpret data for policymakers is a key example of leveraging external expertise to drive local government action. The nimble program development possible at the municipal level, combined with such strategic partnerships, provides a powerful model for translating global goals into local impact.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article’s central theme is public health, specifically addressing health disparities, maternal and infant mortality, and improving healthcare coordination in Baltimore. This directly aligns with the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The focus on the “Black Maternal Health Agenda” and the health of mothers specifically addresses the well-being and empowerment of women. Tackling health disparities that disproportionately affect Black mothers is a key aspect of achieving gender and racial equality.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article is fundamentally about reducing inequalities in health outcomes. It highlights the “disparate rate of infant morbidity and mortality” among Black mothers and children, regardless of socioeconomic status, and discusses policy efforts to address these inequities.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article mentions the collaborative efforts required to address these complex issues. It notes initiatives led by organizations like “Baltimore Healthy Start and B’more for Healthy Babies” and the role of “HIMSS… as a partner on gathering data,” which exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships needed to achieve the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio. The article’s focus on the “Black Maternal Health Agenda” and the high mortality rates among Black mothers directly relates to this target.
2. Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age. The concern over the “disparate rate of infant morbidity and mortality” aligns with the goal of reducing infant deaths.
3. Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels. Councilwoman Porter’s role as chair of the Public Health and Environment Committee, directing “local policy and legislation on health disparities,” and releasing the “Black Maternal Health Agenda” are direct examples of this target in action.
4. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory policies and practices. The effort to understand and address why “Black mothers and children are still at a disparate rate of infant morbidity and mortality” is an attempt to reduce inequalities of health outcomes for a specific racial group.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article highlights partnerships between the Baltimore city council, nonprofit partners like “Baltimore Healthy Start and B’more for Healthy Babies,” and organizations like HIMSS to gather data and implement initiatives.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Maternal Mortality Rate: This is a direct indicator for Target 3.1. The article implies its use by discussing the mortality rates of Black mothers as a central problem to be addressed.
• Infant Mortality Rate: This is a direct indicator for Target 3.2. The article explicitly mentions the “disparate rate of infant… mortality” as a key concern.
• Health Data Interoperability and Modernization: This is an implied process indicator. The article points to the need to “modernize maternal health data” and addresses concerns about “interoperability” between different health centers. Progress here would indicate an improved capacity to monitor and address health disparities.
• Reduction in Health Disparity Gaps: This is an implied outcome indicator for Target 10.3. The success of the policies would be measured by a reduction in the gap of morbidity and mortality rates between Black mothers and children and other demographic groups.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: healthcarefinancenews.com