As an organization dedicated to the health and wellness of Black women, we feel it’s crucial to address the recent executive orders that could affect our community’s access to healthcare and overall wellbeing.

What’s Changed?

Several executive orders that supported equity and expanded healthcare access have been rescinded. Of particular importance to our community are the reversals of:

  • Executive Order 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities
  • Executive Order 14009 on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act
  • Executive Order 14070 on Continuing to Strengthen Americans’ Access to Affordable, Quality Health Coverage
  • Executive Order 14087 on Lowering Prescription Drug Costs
  • Executive Order 13995 on Ensuring an Equitable Pandemic Response and Recovery

When “Everyone’s Responsible” Means No One Is Accountable

The rollback of DEI initiatives reminds us of an important truth: when we make everyone generally responsible for fairness in healthcare, we often end up with no one specifically accountable for it. Here’s what this looks like in practice:

Without dedicated DEI offices, addressing healthcare disparities becomes “everyone’s job,” but no one’s priority

  • Removing specific equity goals from performance metrics means institutions lose concrete ways to measure progress
  • Eliminating dedicated positions means no one is specifically tasked with monitoring and addressing systemic barriers
  • Without formal programs, addressing bias in healthcare settings becomes optional rather than required

What’s Changing

  • Federal agencies have 60 days to terminate DEI offices and positions
  • Review and revision of federal employment practices
  • Changes to federal contractor requirements regarding DEI training
  • Elimination of equity-related grants and contracts

The connection between DEI programs and healthcare outcomes cannot be overstated. Research consistently shows that diverse healthcare teams lead to better patient outcomes for our community. Cultural competency in healthcare settings has proven crucial for building trust and improving communication between patients and providers. Additionally, representation in medical research is vital for ensuring treatments are effective for all communities, while DEI training has been instrumental in addressing implicit bias in medical settings that can affect quality of care.

Read the full article about impact of healthcare-related executive orders at Black Women's Health Initiative.