Dear Colleagues and Friends:

I am pleased to announce the theme for April's National Minority Health Month for 2013: "Advance Health Equity Now: Uniting our Communities to Bring Health Care Coverage to All."

This theme embodies our dynamic efforts that continue to close the gap in health care disparities and usher in a new era that improves access to high quality health care for all Americans. As a unifying collaboration between federal, state, nonprofit, academic and private sector partners for Minority Health Month, it builds on implementation of the Affordable Care Act to engage all consumers as advocates for their own health care and that of their families and communities.

This effort which we will launch during April's National Minority Health Month will continue through October when the Health Insurance Marketplaces begin enrolling consumers, and it will support HHS-wide efforts and OMH's strategic priorities, including the HHS Disparities Action Plan and the ACA Implementation Working Group in partnership with CMS.

In the coming days, the Office of Minority Health will share more details about National Minority Health Month on our website, including messaging and tools that you can use to help educate, inform and motivate action among our various stakeholders. I also urge you to visit the newly re-launched http://www.healthcare.gov website, which contains a wealth of information.

We at the Office of Minority Health look forward to working with you in the coming months to open the doors to better health and quality of life for millions of Americans.

Sincerely, J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health
U.S. Office of Minority Health