The Ministry of Health and Human Services announced on Tuesday that more than a dozen digital health startups will receive support from the federal government to address COVID-19 discrepancies.

These companies are the first companies selected to participate in the PandemicX accelerator, which is supervised by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Health and the Office of the National Health Information Technology Coordinator, and managed by the Digital Health Innovation Center MassChallenge HealthTech.

According to HHS, the 15 startups selected for the PandemicX accelerator will be equipped with publicly accessible data from HHS in an attempt to address the health gap that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

“PandemicX will help us provide interoperable tools to identify health inequalities and promote interventions to prevent such inequalities from becoming healthcare gaps,” said Micky Tripathi, National Health Information Technology Coordinator, in a statement. Press ReleasesFor example, start-up companies can develop projects to make it easier for public health and medical professionals to obtain correct data.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been highlighted Long-standing ethnic and economic differences, Including and unavailable health care and Digital technology.

The startups selected for PandemicX Accelerator include virtual care company Carium, chronic disease support program Culture Care Collective, and artificial intelligence company Ferrum Health. Possible focus areas include projects related to designed health equity, national public health, mental health and violence prevention, socioeconomic outcomes, and community resilience.

The two companies will participate in a four-month program that includes resources and support from HHS, guidance, and cooperation with other companies. According to HHS, government, corporate, information technology and public health professionals will provide feedback to startups as they develop and expand their projects.

HHS announced the PandemicX accelerator in September, citing the need to address current fairness challenges and future health threats. PandemicX accelerator is The public challenges health technologyBroader initiatives for next year include eight accelerators sponsored by Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare and other institutions.

“The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health is ensuring that health equity is the cornerstone of our response to COVID-19,” said Dr. Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary of HHS Ready comments In September. “The more key stakeholders involved in solving the toughest health challenges, the better.”