Policy

Our Priorities:

MACHW works to promote and support organizational and public policies that will standardize CHW practice, enable reimbursement for the work of CHWs, advance a living wage, and ensure that credentialing is adequate and accessible to all CHWs. Our staff, Advisory Board, and members are increasingly present at the State House and other policymaking bodies to create and advocate for legislation that advances the CHW profession and improves health equity for all.

Initiative Highlights:

  • MACHW is honored to work alongside 80+ leaders of color from all sectors in Massachusetts’ Health Equity Compact. Together, we will realize bold statewide policy and institutional practice changes that center racial justice and health equity, leading to equitable healthcare and health outcomes for all who live in the Commonwealth. MACHW is represented by staff and members at the State Board of Certification of Community Health Workers’ monthly meetings. The Board works to integrate community health workers into the health care and public health systems.
  • In March 2023, MACHW worked with the League of Community Health Centers, Health Care for All, Boston Medical Center, and the Massachusetts Health and Hospitals Association to introduce Bill H.1184, An Act Relative to Health Equity and Community Health Workers. This bill will address three key issues to developing CHW practice in our Commonwealth: practice standardization, reimbursement for CHW services, and inclusion of behavioral health as a required CHW competency.
  • MACHW also testified before the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing in favor of Bill H.1250/S.799, an Act to Advance Health Equity. Testimony by our members focused on CHW workforce development as central to achieving equity and encouraged legislators to think beyond loan forgiveness and add scholarships for CHWs.
  • MACHW assisted in the planning and onboarding of CHWs to the Somerville Health Department and are providing ongoing technical assistance as they launch a Division of CHW Practice.