To CMS, health equity means the attainment of the highest level of health for all people, where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their optimal health regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, preferred language, or other factors ...

Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Equity Plan for Improving Quality in Medicare (CMS Equity Plan for Medicare) provides an action-oriented, results-driven approach for advancing health equity by improving the quality of care provided to minority and other underserved Medicare beneficiaries.

Health disparities are caused by a multitude of systemic factors often referred to as social determinants of health, including access to safe housing, heathy food, access to health services, transportation, public safety, media and technology, etc.