Health Equity

Putting Equity at the Center of Community Health.

We believe every person deserves access to quality healthcare, and every healthcare organization deserves a partner who understands the human and organizational aspects of delivering it. Elm & Oak helps healthcare organizations translate equity intentions into measurable outcomes by embedding community insight, real-time data, and pragmatic solutions into everyday care delivery.

Healthcare Equity Isn’t a Trend. It’s a Mandate.

Elm & Oak has been doing this work for decades, long before equity became a funding priority or regulatory requirement. We know that achieving meaningful, lasting change requires more than awareness. It requires systems-level action that reflects the lived experiences of the people we serve.

Through practical strategies and locally informed partnerships, we support organizations in closing gaps, dismantling disparities, and advancing real health justice. Whether you’re a payer, provider, or community-based leader, we bring the tools and experience to help equity goals become operational success.

From Equity Strategy to Operational Impact

Health equity work succeeds when it moves beyond intention and becomes part of how care is designed, delivered, and measured. Elm & Oak partners with healthcare organizations to define, operationalize, and sustain health equity strategies that are grounded in community realities and aligned with regulatory and organizational goals.

Our approach is practical and systems-focused. We help organizations identify inequities, prioritize interventions, and embed equity into programs, policies, and decision-making—so progress is measurable, scalable, and durable over time.

This work spans strategy, implementation, and evaluation, supporting organizations at every stage of their health equity journey.

Our Health Equity Services

Our work is grounded in decades of experience serving Medicaid populations and partnering with providers, health plans, public agencies, and community-based organizations.

Elm & Oak supports healthcare organizations by helping them:

Define a clear, actionable health equity strategy
Identify disparities in access, outcomes, and experience using quantitative and qualitative data
Engage communities and stakeholders to inform program design
Develop equity-focused programs and interventions across clinical and non-clinical settings
Align equity initiatives with state and federal requirements, accreditation standards, and funding priorities
Build internal capacity to sustain equity work over time

Health Equity Impact Assessments (HEIA)

Supporting a State-Mandated Process with Credibility and Care

In New York State, Health Equity Impact Assessments are a prescribed regulatory requirement for healthcare facilities seeking Certificate of Need approval.

Elm & Oak serves as an independent, experienced partner to help organizations complete HEIAs with rigor, credibility, and meaningful community engagement.

Our HEIA support includes:

Quantitative analysis of the potential impact of proposed changes on disadvantaged populations

Structured community and stakeholder engagement

Clear, actionable recommendations to mitigate identified equity risks

Alignment with NYS expectations and broader health equity goals

As one of the first organizations to conduct HEIAs under the current regulations, Elm & Oak brings deep regulatory knowledge and longstanding community expertise to a process that requires both.

Health Equity With Action Behind It

Elm & Oak supports organizations that are launching new equity initiatives or evaluating the impact of existing programs. We help partners:

Conduct community-specific health equity impact assessments
Identify racial, geographic, and socioeconomic disparities in care access and outcomes
Design cross-sector solutions in partnership with public health agencies and community-based organizations
Align equity initiatives with CMS, HEDIS, NCQA, and state requirements

Our focus is on translating equity goals into real-world programs that improve outcomes and meet compliance expectations.

Real Change. Real Communities.

Elm & Oak’s equity interventions have helped our partners:

Reduce hospital readmissions for high-risk groups
Improve maternal health outcomes in underserved communities
Strengthen patient trust and engagement through culturally tailored outreach
Meet or exceed compliance benchmarks related to equity and access

Let’s Build Equity Into the DNA of Your Health System

We’re ready to help you move from equity ambition to equity achievement—with a framework that’s measurable, flexible, and human-centered from start to finish.