BCRC is committed to advocating for institutional and policy changes to address Long COVID and advance health equity. Here, we highlight some of our advocacy efforts, as well as the efforts of some of our community partners.
Institutional and Policy Change
Massachusetts State Legislative Briefings
On January 30, 2024, Massachusetts State Representative Mindy Domb, with the help of BCRC, hosted a legislative briefing, “Long COVID & Health Equity in the Commonwealth, Part 1: What We Know and What Don’t Know,” for fellow representatives, discussing the current status of Long COVID in Massachusetts and the importance of considering health equity concerns in addressing it.
Mindy Domb, MA State Representative
On June 25, 2024, Rep. Domb hosted another briefing, “Long COVID & Health Equity in the Commonwealth, Part 2: Moving to Policy Solutions,” to highlight strategies and policy priorities to take the next steps to address Long COVID.
Health Equity Compact
The Health Equity Compact is a group of over 80 leaders of color who aim to advance health equity in Massachusetts. The Compact recently filed a bill titled “An Act to Advance Health Equity” in the Massachusetts state legislature. This proposed legislation would work to prioritize health equity in state government, increase standardization and reporting on health equity data, and improving access to and quality of care.
Long COVID Moonshot
Long COVID Moonshot is a collective of patients advocating for increased Long COVID research and resources for those affected by Long COVID. The group is calling for an additional $1 billion allocated to the NIH for Long COVID research beyond the RECOVER project.