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Member Alerts

Ascension Foundation for Health Equity Announces Over $1 million in Catalyst Grants: The Ascension Foundation for Health Equity has announced a new round of grants totaling over $1 million to support postpartum mothers and their families. Fourteen nonprofit organizations across ten states will receive funding as part of the Foundation's ongoing efforts to address health disparities in the U.S. 

Federal Landscape

CMS: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Groundbreaking Action to Expand Health Care Access by Covering Traditional Health Care Practices (10/16) - On October 16, CMS approved section 1115 demonstration amendments in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Oregon that will provide Medicaid and CHIP coverage of traditional health care practices provided by Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities, tribal facilities, and urban Indian organizations (UIOs). 

NIH: Enhancing Referrals to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through Clinical Integration of a Standards-Based Decision Support System (10/15) - This study aimed to develop a digital care coordination platform to streamline referrals for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), addressing gaps in social services access. The researchers partnered with community members and organizations like a Federally Qualified Health Center, Local Mental Health Authority, and Food Bank to design the platform using Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) APIs for real-time data exchange. The platform was piloted in clinical settings, where patients were referred to a Food Bank for SNAP application assistance. The pilot successfully demonstrated the feasibility of tracking social service referrals and improving support for SNAP applications. However, it also highlighted the need for further coordination and the limitations of current digital systems in fully adopting national Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) data standards.

NIH: NIH Announces Winners of Prize Competition to Improve Postpartum Maternal Health and Health Equity Through Innovative Diagnostics (10/15) - NIH announced the winners of a prize competition to improve postpartum maternal health and health equity through innovative diagnostics. 

CMS: 1115 Waiver Demonstration Louisiana Reentry (10/11) -The Louisiana Department of Health submitted an application to CMS on September 27, 2024 for an 1115 demonstration waiver to improve care transitions for Medicaid-eligible individuals who are incarcerated and to provide certain covered services during the 90-day pre-release period.

New Research

Sage Journals: It’s Really About Those Social Determinants of Health that Drive It: Addressing Food Insecurity in Rural Veterans (10/15) - This study explores the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) efforts to tackle food insecurity among rural veterans. Through qualitative interviews with 30 VA experts, 57 site visit participants at three VA Medical Centers (VAMCs), and 10 rural veterans experiencing food insecurity, the study examined factors contributing to the issue. The findings highlight the VA's existing programs, including a national screening initiative and partnerships with community resources. Veterans suggested further outreach and education to address food insecurity. The study concludes that tackling food insecurity among rural veterans requires a comprehensive approach, addressing interconnected social determinants of health.

The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing: Increasing Access to Doulas to Improve Breastfeeding (10/14) - This article discusses the role of doulas in supporting breastfeeding, particularly for vulnerable populations in the United States. It highlights that few families have access to doula services, despite evidence showing their positive impact on improving breastfeeding outcomes, especially for at-risk mothers. The article points out challenges such as lack of insurance coverage and financial barriers that limit access to doulas. Recommendations include expanding doula access through policy reforms to support breastfeeding initiation and success, particularly for low-income families. The article emphasizes the importance of doula support in maternity care to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

JAMA Pediatrics: The Child Opportunity Index and Other Social Determinants of Health Neighborhood Indexes (10/14) - Neighborhood social determinants of health significantly influence pediatric health outcomes across various populations. While several publicly available composite indexes assess area-level resources, only the Child Opportunity Index (COI) specifically focuses on resources for children. Researchers often choose a neighborhood index based on the availability of geographic identifiers and familiarity, potentially overlooking important differences among the indexes. Existing literature indicates that these indexes may not always correlate or align; however, there has been no specific investigation of the COI in this context. Understanding the relationship between these indexes can improve research accuracy and enhance evidence for resource allocation decisions.

What We Are Reading

The Hill: Child Welfare System Reforms Shouldn’t Leave Incarcerated Mothers Behind

Psychiatry Online: Integrated Prevention Infrastructure: A Framework for Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Substance Use Policy Making

Springer Link: Introducing Health Equity Curriculum: Challenges and Opportunities

Scientific American: How to Make Progress in Health Equity

Journal of Bioethics: Bridging Ethics and Evidence: Language as a Critical Determinant of Health Equity

Upcoming Events

October 24, 2024 - NASEM, "Multi-Sector, Community-Based Partnerships as an Intentional Strategy to Advance Health Equity" | Virtual

October 31, 2024 - HL7, "Advancing Health Equity: A Global View" | Virtual

Advocacy Alert

Share your support for the UNDERSTAND Act and KIDS Health Act with your member of Congress.

The UNDERSTAND Act (Utilizing National Data, Effectively Reforming Standards and Tools, to Address Negative Determinates of Health Act), introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), aims to standardize the collection of social determinants of health (SDoH) data using Z-codes from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This legislation mandates that Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs gather and report SDoH data to the federal government, enabling better identification of community needs and allocation of resources.

Key provisions of the UNDERSTAND Act include:

• Establishing a standardized definition of SDoH to enhance data collection and reporting
• Providing guidance to states on reducing duplicate screenings of beneficiaries
• Sharing directories of local resources to support states.
• Offering educational resources on culturally sensitive screening practices.
• Requiring a report to Congress on the findings and outcomes related to SDoH data

View our letter of support HERE. 

The KIDS Health Act (Kickstarting Innovative Demonstrations Support) was introduced in 2023 by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Tom Carper (D-DE), along with Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester and Michael Burgess. This bipartisan legislation aims to create a holistic approach to children's health care by integrating mental and physical health services for children and youth eligible for Medicaid and the CHIP.

Key aspects of the KIDS Health Act include:

• Emphasizes a coordinated model of care, enabling healthcare providers to address the comprehensive needs of children
• Remove bureaucratic obstacles that hinder access to mental health services for children
• Aligns with value-based care principles to promote patient-centered approaches that improve health outcomes
  

Join the sign-on letter HERE.