What We Do
Co-founded by AARP Foundation and ProMedica in 2015, The Root Cause Coalition is a nonprofit, member-driven organization comprised of more than 90 leading health systems, hospital associations, foundations, businesses, national and community nonprofits, health insurers, academic institutions and policy centers. Our common goal is to achieve health equity for every American.
Collaborating across sectors to achieve health equity.
The Root Cause Coalition brings together diverse organizations committed to achieving health equity through collaborative partnerships, community-based solutions, public policy changes and shared research.
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Connected by our common goals in advocacy, education and research, members serve their communities to realize improved health outcomes. TRCC is member-led and works collectively, sharing best practices and creating innovative partnerships to improve public health.
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In 2020, TRCC released the Status of Health Equity Report which included the following 8-Point Call to Action to Achieve by 2025.
1.
In payment reform, support for methods, processes and payment models that ensure payment to care providers and non-clinical community-based organizations for demonstrated value related to addressing health inequity as a result of the social determinants of health, as well as a critical step towards creating national target for healthcare expenditures (i.e., 15% of the GDP).
2.
Create a standardized integrated health benefit technology platform that connects patients, payors, providers and community organizations in order to consolidate fragmented programs and services into an integrated network.
3.
Require commercial health plans and support health systems nationally to formally embed social determinants of health and health inequities goals into their programs and services.
4.
In all medical and clinical education programs nationwide, create pathway for educating and training providers about health equity, the social determinants of health, trauma-informed care, and how health care providers can effectively integrate these elements into their current practice. In addition, ensure that cultural competency and humility training is included in the curriculum, as well as a commitment to diversity in the health care workforce.
5.
Educate constituents, communities and partners on steps that should be taken, including the adoption of specific policies, to address climate change with specific focus on health care emissions. Make the clear connection to climate change’s disparate impact on low income and minority communities, and their effect on all social determinants.
6.
Support for comprehensive plans to address our nation’s deficits in infant mortality, mental health services and substance use disorders.
7.
For health care organizations and corporations nationally, encourage ongoing education among board members, leaders and employees related to racial equity and cultural competency issues within the workplace.
8.
Establish relevant and clear, standardized metrics for measuring health outcomes related to racial disparities and the social determinants of health, and commit to building a new disaggregated, public health data infrastructure for the public good.