Gov. Evers Signs Executive Order #17 Relating to the Creation of the Governor’s Health Equity Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2019
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov or (608) 219-7443
MILWAUKEE — Following a tour of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin's Midtown Clinic in Milwaukee, Governor Tony Evers today signed Executive Order #17 establishing the Governor's Health Equity Council.
According to the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's 2016 Wisconsin Report Card, the state of Wisconsin has an overall health disparities grade of "D." The Report Card also notes that while Wisconsin's grade for overall health has remained the same since 2007, the health disparities grade has gotten worse since 2010, moving from a C- to a D in 2013 and 2016.
The Governor's Health Equity Council will work to develop a plan, supported by a body of research, with key benchmarks to reduce and eliminate health disparities throughout the state of Wisconsin by 2030. The plan shall address health disparities in populations based on race, economic status, education level, history of incarceration, and geographic location.
"Accepting federal funds to expand Medicaid is central to our efforts to improve the health and well-being of all Wisconsinites, but so too is addressing the racial, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities that contribute to poor health outcomes," said Gov. Evers. "Through programs like our Healthy Women, Healthy Babies initiatives, as well as through the work of our newly created Health Equity Council, we will continue to seek innovative and commonsense solutions to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities."
Individuals interested in serving on the Health Equity Council should submit a cover letter and resume to govappointments@wisconsin.gov by April 30th, 2019.
View Executive Order #17 here.
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