Consumer Health Equity Advisory Group

Taking the lead to inform and guide health care policy and programs.

Health Care Planning is for Everyone

At Honoring Choices, we talk with consumers every day about their health care.  Adults, families, caregivers- and everyone on the health care journey with the adult- tell us about the considerable challenges and barriers they face when trying to get care when they need it.  Consumers share their experiences and also common sense solutions and innovative ways to create better pathways to access timely, equitable everyday care.

Our Consumer Health Equity Advisory Group brings together adults, advocates, community and consumer groups, to share their knowledge to reduce the barriers and take steps to re-build a trustworthy person-driven and community centered health care system.

The Advisory Group is focused three goals:

  1. Every person has equal access to health care planning to shift the balance to person-driven care;
  2. Listen carefully to the shared knowledge and lived experiences of consumers, families and advocates;
  3. Make recommendations to inform and guide policy and program change that advances health equity and improves access to timely care.

Make a Plan. Raise Your Voice. Take Action!

Here's how you can help make needed change.

Portrait Hispanic mother and adult daughter.

Make Your Own Plan

Protect your right to get the care you want 

  • Every person can make decisions about the kind of care they want.
  • You don’t just have a say in your care- you have a right to understand your health condition to make decisions about the care you want, and say 'yes' or 'no thanks'  to treatments.  
  • You can make your own plan by writing down your care choices in planning documents.
  • Your plan tells others how to care for you when you are sick, even for a short time while you recover.
  • A good place to start your plan is by completing a Health Care Proxy. 
  • It's easy to do yourself. Just print a free Health Care Proxy by clicking here. The Health Care Proxy is available in 15 languages.

Let's spread the word to family, friends and your community for equal access to care planning!

 

Acknowledge bias.

Raise Your Voice

 Share your knowledge and experience

Adults and their advocates are sharing the challenges they face everyday in simply trying to get good health care.  We are listening carefully to the complex barriers experienced among diverse groups, such as-

  • structural racism in communities of color and discrimination in ethnic cultures;
  • linguistically inappropriate materials and documents and culturally insensitive planning conversations;
  • gender bias and discrimination in receiving treatment;
  • the decision-making rights of adults with disabilities are not considered, ignored and not honored;
  • widespread behavioral health and wellness challenges and a lack of access to timely care;
  • individuals and groups who feel invisible to those making decisions about policy and funding. 

Your knowledge and lived experiences are key to informing and guiding change. Let's make health care work for you! 

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Take Action

Inform & guide policy and program change

It’s time to shift the balance to person-driven care, and use our shared knowledge to inform and guide policy and programs to advance health equity.  Here are some recommendations for change consumers are talking about: 

  • immediate policy change that closes the gaps on health disparities;
  • drive more funding to home and community-based services and to address social determinates of health;
  • build a trustworthy health care system;
  • coverage to pay for care and services;
  • support a diverse well trained, well paid community centered workforce;
  • talk with consumers before policy is made 

Lend your voice! You or your group are welcome to join the  Advisory Group. Email Ellen, edipaola@honoringchoicesmass.com

Consumers are Transforming Care

We listen carefully to consumers and their advocates, and take action on their suggestions to continually improve and grow our programs. Here are some ways consumers have shaped our programs, and a few of the new projects we are working to inform and guide policy and programs.

Translated Health Care Proxy

We started with 5 translated documents, then quickly heard from consumers who told us what languages would be helpful for their community.  We now offer free downloadable Health Care Proxy in 15 languages, with more to go.

“I Have Health Care Proxy” Wallet Card

Consumers asked for a way to help medical personnel quickly contact their Health Care Agent in case of emergency. The wallet card does just that and is appreciated by emergency  providers, adults and families alike. You can make your own wallet card, now available in 4 languages.

Information is Key: Free Fact Sheets and more

Consumers regularly request accurate, reliable information on a wide variety of health care topics. With their suggestions, our library of 1-page free and downloadable fact sheets is constantly growing. Additionally, our “Terms, Topics and Tips” page is a quick guide to define medical and legal terms and get some helpful tips suggested by consumers. Everything is on the Resources page.

Hundreds of Consumer Webinars: “Now’s the Time. Make Your Own Plan” 

This very popular interactive presentation has been experienced by thousands of consumers over the last 10 years. Consumers learn how to make their own care plan using the free Honoring Choices MA Getting Started Tool Kit. They ask questions and share experiences in real time, and importantly, offer their feedback and ideas. Our Community Partners, such as the MA Councils on Aging, Boston Public Library, primary care offices, gather their community groups for this fun and informative session. Read more.

New Projects:  Consumers Taking the Lead to Inform and Guide Programs

Consumers are taking an active role in shaping several initiatives to transform health care planning and ensure every adult can access timely equitable care today and over their lifetime.  The projects underway are-

  • Building an improved community-based serious illness care framework to access timely equitable care at home and in the community;
  • Proposing new pathways to access proactive and preventative care;
  • Suggesting policy change which advances health equity and supports person-driven care in the new POLST Program (Portable Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment);
  • Improving medical and legal pathways to ensure adults under guardianship receive timely care;
  • A new tool kit for adults with disabilities to ensure everyone can understand their health condition and express their care preferences.

Come Join Us. We welcome your perspective and knowledge to shift the balance to powerful person-driven change. Individuals and groups are very welcome! 

Contact Ellen at 781 642-0454, or send an email to Ellen at edipaola@honoringchoicesmass.com