The Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (MHHD) has been awarded a $1 million grant, the largest since the office’s establishment, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health’s State Partnership Grant Program to improve minority health in Prince George’s County.  As announced in a DHMH press release:

“The purpose of our MHHD Office utilizing this grant will be to increase the number and percent of minority populations utilizing primary care services,” said Maryland Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Van T. Mitchell. “We expect utilization of this grant will improve population health and will reduce healthcare costs by assisting minority populations to access quality primary care services – both preventive and treatment services – in Prince George’s County.” The grant’s title is “Educating Minorities of Benefits Received after Consumer Enrollment (EMBRACE).” The grant cycle is August 2015 to July 2020.

“The goal of EMBRACE is to reduce minority health disparities by removing obstacles that newly insured consumers can encounter when attempting to access preventive services,” said Arlee Wallace, MHHD’s acting director. “In addition to connecting consumers with care, this process will help reduce the costs associated with unnecessary emergency department visits, admissions and readmissions.”

For more information read the DHMH press release.