“Hospitals and health insurers cheered a bipartisan Congressional proposal that would open the door to addressing social determinants of health by allocating tax dollars toward grants and technical assistance to communities.”
“Health insurers are already paying for an array of services from food and nutrition to housing to make sure patients are getting the right care, in the right place and at the right time.”
“Now comes the Social Determinants Accelerator Act, which Democrats and Republicans in Congress say will ‘help states and communities devise strategies to better leverage existing programs and authorities to improve the health and well-being of those participating in Medicaid’ the health insurance program for the poor, according to a one-page description of the proposal from U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, an Illinois Democrat.”
“Medical care providers cheered the effort, which is important considering it would require hospitals and health systems to form closer ties with social service agencies and community groups to improve outreach to healthcare services not typically covered by Medicaid…”
“The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working with a council appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, would ‘make available up to $25 million in grants to state, local and Tribal governments to develop Social Determinants Accelerator Plans,’ the proposal said.” Read the full article here.
Source: Congress Warms To Paying For Social Determinants And Health Industry Cheers – By Bruce Japsen, July 25, 2019. Forbes.
