Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Inc. (Meridian), a provider of government-sponsored managed care services to families, children, seniors, and individuals with complex medical needs and wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, announced it will reimburse a portion of the certification fee for in-network Illinois hospitals that complete the Health Care Equity (HCE) Certification program offered by The Joint Commission. Meridian is actively encouraging participation in the HCE Certification. The health plan’s support of the program aims to ensure in-network hospitals formalize structures, processes, and goals for identifying and addressing health care disparities in the communities they serve. Reimbursement of the annual application fee will be 25 percent for Safety Net and Critical Access hospitals, while all other hospitals will be reimbursed 15 percent. “We’re thrilled to be the first Medicaid health plan in the country to leverage The Joint Commission’s Health Care Equity Certification to advance our mission to transform the health of the community, one person at a time,” said Cristal Gary, Meridian Plan President and CEO. “Together, we will work to ensure our providers have the right resources and support to deliver high-quality and equitable care with dignity and respect for all people we collectively serve.” Established on July 1, 2023, The Joint Commission’s HCE Certification program offers hospitals a comprehensive framework to improve health equity efforts through assessment, monitoring and a focus on diversity, inclusion, and accessibility to create measurable impact. Learn more about Meridian’s support of the HCE Certification program, www.ilmeridian.com.