Health Equity Policy Priorities for COVID-19: What Congress Can Do Right Now

The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened existing health inequities, disproportionately affecting communities of color, immigrant communities, people with disabilities, and other marginalized communities. The federal policy recommendations described in this document identify concrete steps that the federal government must take to mitigate the impact of the crisis and provide immediate relief to communities.

The federal government must increase state fiscal relief, ensure equitable access to affordable health coverage, expand access to ethical and culturally appropriate COVID-19 treatment, organize and build a robust health infrastructure in vulnerable communities, and address the social determinants of health.