During the State Medicaid Waivers session, panelists were able to explain the need for waivers and the purposes they serve. These waivers often cover specific needs of various communities of people, like children and individuals with disabilities.
Continue readingFunding and Finance Strategies to Improve State Energy Resilience
During an Innovation Classroom presented by the Institute for Building Technology & Safety (IBTS), leaders learned how states can leverage federal funding to develop and implement large-scale programs to achieve their vision for a sustainable and resilient future.
Continue readingState Medicaid Programs: What State Policymakers Need to Know examines increase in those covered
One in four Americans rely on Medicaid to gain access to care. With that, Lindsey Browning with the National Association of Medicaid Directors opened the State Medicaid Programs: What State Policymakers Need to Know session during the 2021 National Conference.
Continue readingRick Steves Talks Travel, Broadened Perspectives
Rick Steves, a TV host, leading authority on European travel and bestselling guidebook author, encouraged 2021 CSG National Conference attendees to travel with awareness and to return home with a broadened perspective.
Continue readingSearching for Savings: An Innovative Approach to Pay for Prescriptions provides solutions
Carl Schmid, Executive Director of the HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute began the Searching for Savings: An Innovative Approach to Pay for Prescriptions session by sharing miraculous statistics in HIV and Hepatitis care.
Continue readingNew Mexico’s Turn Toward Renewable Energy
New Mexico state leaders discussed efforts to diversify energy and increase renewable sources.
Continue readingThe Next Generation of State Clean Energy Initiatives
A 2021 CSG National Conference session presented by the Sustainability Policy Academy explored how energy companies, utilities and other players are contributing to a clean energy future.
Continue readingLeveraging 2020 Census Data to Jumpstart Decision Making
CSG Associate Esri introduced leaders to powerful data tools during 2021 CSG National Conference.
Continue readingState Leaders Discuss Western Water Usage
A panel presented by CSG West explored meeting today’s water needs while fostering effective tribal engagement.
Continue readingCommon Language in State Performance Recovery Plans
by Christina Gordley
The coronavirus pandemic exacerbated health disparities, with marked differences in health outcomes linked to social, economic or environmental disadvantages observed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act was designed, in part, to achieve greater equity. Guidance from the U.S. Treasury required that funds be used to address systemic public health and economic challenges that have contributed to the inequitable health and welfare impact of the pandemic on certain populations.
CSG analysists conducted a review of the language in the state performance recovery plans that each state — so far — submitted to the U.S. Department of the Treasury to help illustrate how the states are using the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to achieve equitable outcomes.
Of the 36 plans available by press time (states continue to submit and publish these plans), 29 states addressed the intent and plan to achieve equitable outcomes using the state and local fiscal recovery funds. CSG analyzed the text of these submitted plans to examine the similarities in the approach and actions taken by the states.
Nationally, the most used word in the section to describe state actions was “business,” which was used 122 times among the documents. While it may seem odd for the use of business so frequently to address inequalities in systemic barriers, states have the unique position to leverage use of incentives and procurement models to promote businesses to achieve desired outcomes in workforce equity.
Words used nationally to address equitable outcomes by frequency are:
- Business
- Service
- Access
- Impact
- Economy
- Provide
- Health
- Pandemic
- Education
- Recovering
Each state faces unique needs and challenges when addressing equity, and when examining the approach to equitable outcomes by region, the focus of the language in the state-submitted reports changed. For example, states in the East referenced business, service, impact and access most during their report on equitable outcomes, whereas in the West, the words most used were health, provide, house and business.
Read more about ARP equity guidance in Capitol Ideas magazine (2021, Issue 5)