Administration Updates

Senate Finance Committee: Bolstering Chronic Care through Physician Payment: Current Challenges and Policy Options in Medicare Part B (05/17) - Senate Finance Committee Chair Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Crapo (R-ID) released a white paper outlining policy concepts related to reforming physician pay and chronic disease. This white paper describes key issues related to Medicare Part B payment that may jeopardize a clinicians’ ability to own and operate a health care practice and meet patient needs. The paper also explores potential policy solutions.

NIH: Adverse Social Determinants of Health Linked to Treatment-Resistant Hypertension in Black Americans (05/16) - A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reveals a connection between adverse social determinants of health and treatment-resistant hypertension in Black Americans. The research suggests that factors like food insecurity, housing instability, and perceived racial discrimination contribute to the difficulty of managing high blood pressure in this population. Understanding and addressing these social determinants could be crucial in improving hypertension management and reducing health disparities among Black Americans.

HHS: Maternal Mental Health Task Force’s National Strategy to Improve Maternal Mental Health Care (05/14) - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the release of a national strategy today, with recommendations developed by the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, a subcommittee of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Advisory Committee for Women’s Services, to address the urgent public health crisis of maternal mental health and substance use issues.

CMS: 1115 Waiver Demonstration - Vermont Global Commitment to Health Amendment (05/14) - CMS posted Vermont's amendment to their Section 1115 waiver for public comment. Among the changes proposed to the demonstration, the state is requesting approval for coverage of medical respite and rent/temporary housing under the Supportive Housing Assistance Pilot for individuals with a history of homelessness or who are at risk for homelessness and have complex clinical or functional needs.

ASPE: Measuring Success in Advancing Equity (05/14) - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) provides guidance on measuring equity success in healthcare. The report outlines key equity measurement domains, including access, utilization, quality of care, and outcomes, and offers recommendations for selecting appropriate equity measures within these domains. It emphasizes the importance of collecting and analyzing data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other relevant factors to identify and address disparities effectively. Additionally, the document highlights examples of equity measurement initiatives and discusses challenges and considerations for implementing equity measurement strategies in healthcare settings.

CMS: Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Explainer Video (05/13) - CMS released a four-minute, animated explainer video, "Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Items: Using Sources Other Than the Resident to Code" for SNF providers. This video is intended to assist providers in accurately determining when the use of other sources is allowed for SDOH items: A1005. Ethnicity, A1010. Race, A1110. Language, A1250. Transportation, B1300. Health Literacy, and D0700. Social Isolation.

NIH: Older American Indians May Experience Higher Levels of Cognitive Impairment Than Previously Thought (05/13) - NIH funded research explores cognitive impairment prevalence among older American Indians, finding that it may be higher than previously estimated. Researchers conducted in-home assessments of cognitive function among American Indian elders aged 60 and older, revealing a higher rate of cognitive impairment than anticipated. Factors such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and smoking were associated with increased risk, underscoring the importance of addressing these health issues to mitigate cognitive decline among older American Indians.

SDoH & Health Equity in the News

Medscape: Peds Clinic Doubles Data Capture by Going Paperless (05/15) - The article discusses a pediatric clinic's transition to a paperless system and its impact on data capture, particularly in the realm of social screening. By going paperless, the clinic was able to double its data capture, including information related to social determinants of health (SDOH). This transition allowed for more efficient screening and documentation of SDOH factors such as food insecurity, providing valuable insights for improving patient care and addressing health disparities.

Pharmacy Times: Collaboration Is Key When Implementing SDOH Screening Programs (05/15) - The article emphasizes the importance of collaboration in implementing social determinants of health (SDOH) screening programs in pharmacy settings. It discusses how pharmacists can play a vital role in addressing SDOH by incorporating screening tools into their practice and collaborating with other healthcare providers and community organizations. It also emphasizes the need for standardized screening protocols, training programs for pharmacy staff, and effective referral systems to ensure the success of SDOH screening initiatives in pharmacies.

Health Affairs: Housing as a Health-Related Social Need: Lessons From North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilot (05/13) - In recent years, CMS has expanded Medicaid funding to cover various housing support services, exemplified by North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots program, which offers valuable lessons on effective implementation, emphasizing the importance of community-based organizations, phased approaches, and cross-sector collaborations to address housing-related social needs in Medicaid, highlighting the evolving landscape of healthcare policies towards holistic care solutions.

Sentinel & Enterprise: Research Illuminates Maternal Health Cost Disparities (05/12) - The article discusses research findings that shed light on disparities in maternal health costs. The study underscores the importance of addressing these disparities to ensure equitable access to maternal healthcare services and suggests that interventions targeting social determinants of health and improving access to high-quality care may help mitigate these disparities.

Medical Xpress: Redesigning Health Care: Integrating Social Care into a Safety Net Health System (05/09) - The article discusses the implementation of a comprehensive approach to integrating social care into a safety net health system. Key components include creating a network of community-based organizations to provide social care services, leveraging technology to streamline referrals and data sharing, and integrating social care into routine clinical workflows. This integrated approach not only improves health outcomes but also reduces healthcare costs by addressing the root causes of health disparities.

The Playbook: Understanding How Social Care Programs Impact Health (05/08) - The blog post discusses the impact of social care programs on health outcomes, emphasizing the need to understand the mechanisms through which these programs influence health. It highlights the importance of integrating social care interventions into healthcare delivery systems to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs and the need for robust data collection and evaluation strategies to assess the effectiveness of social care programs in improving health outcomes and addressing social determinants of health.

New Research & Reports

AAP Publications: Black–White Disparities in Asthma Hospitalizations and ED Visits Among Medicaid-Enrolled Children (05/16) - The article investigates racial disparities in asthma hospitalizations among Black and White children in the United States. Analyzing data from the National Inpatient Sample, researchers found that Black children were more likely to be hospitalized for asthma compared to White children. Factors such as insurance type, household income, and geographic region contributed to these disparities, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address asthma-related health inequities among children.

NASEM: The Role of Business in Improving Health and Health Equity (05/14) - The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop to explore the role of businesses in promoting health and health equity. The workshop discussed strategies for businesses to address health disparities, create healthy environments, and engage with communities to improve health outcomes. Key topics included the influence of business practices on social determinants of health, partnerships between businesses and public health organizations, and the importance of data-driven approaches to measure and evaluate the impact of business initiatives on health equity.

CHCS: Building a Health Equity Focus into Value-Based Payment Design: Approaches for Medicaid Payers (05/14) - CHCS explores strategies for integrating health equity considerations into value-based payment (VBP) design for Medicaid payers. The brief outlines key principles for incorporating health equity into VBP arrangements, emphasizing the importance of data collection, stakeholder engagement, and accountability mechanisms. It also highlights examples of state Medicaid programs and other initiatives that have successfully incorporated health equity into their VBP models, providing insights and recommendations for Medicaid payers seeking to adopt similar approaches.

Archives of Public Health: The Cost-Efficacy of a Healthy Food Box for Managing Hypertension Within a Native American Population: A Group Randomized Controlled Trial (05/13) - The study investigates the cost-effectiveness of a healthy food box intervention, known as the Chickasaw Healthy Eating Environment Research Study (CHEERS), in managing hypertension among Native American adults. The intervention involved providing monthly boxes of healthy, culturally tailored foods along with other resources such as gym memberships and Fitbits. The study highlights the potential of nutrition-based interventions in addressing hypertension within Native American populations and notes the need for further research to understand treatment effectiveness in different demographic groups and the importance of considering the intervention's cost-effectiveness for widespread implementation.

Upcoming Events

Conferences

• May 29-30, 2024 - CMS, "Health Equity Conference." Bethesda, MD | Hybrid
• June 3-5, 2024 - U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, "The 2024 National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening." | Virtual

Briefings and Webinars

• May 21, 2024 - CMS, "Improving Health Equity for Dually Eligible Enrollees in Rural Areas." | Virtual
• May 21, 2024 - National Council on Aging, "What Does the New Physician Fee Schedule Rule Mean for Community-Based Organizations Offering Health and Wellness Activities?" | Virtual
• May 21, 2024 - U.S. Senate Committee on HELP, "Feeding a Healthier America: Current Efforts and Potential Opportunities for Food is Medicine." | Virtual
• May 22, 2024 -CMS, "UNITE Natives 2024 Part 1 – Rezilient: Preserving Our Culture Through Our Elders." | Virtual
• May 23, 2024 - Margolis Center for Health Policy, "Advancing Whole-Person Health Care through North Carolina's State Transformation Collaborative." | Virtual
• May 23, 2024 - National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, "Vivek Murthy Lecture Series for Public Health Leadership: Fostering Social Connection to Enhance Health and Wellbeing." | Virtual
• May 23, 2024, NASEM, "State Approaches to Addressing Health-Related Social Needs: Webinar and Discussion." | Virtual
• June 11, 2024 - Kaiser Permanente, "Health, Housing, and Justice: What Kaiser Permanente Learned from Investing in Legal Aid." | Virtual