Reintroduction of UNDERSTAND Act

Aligning for Health expresses strong support for the bipartisan reintroduction of the Utilizing National Data, Effectively Reforming Standards and Tools, to Address Negative Determinants of Health (UNDERSTAND) Act, co-sponsored by Senators Sullivan (R-AK) and Cortez Masto (D-NV). This important legislation seeks to enhance the collection of data on social determinants of health for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries, helping improve health outcomes nationwide.

As an organization committed to fostering collaboration across sectors to address the social determinants of health, Aligning for Health believes the UNDERSTAND Act represents a meaningful step toward improving the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities across the country.

“We support efforts to screen and collect information about social drivers of health for Medicaid and CHIP populations to ensure comprehensive care and equip healthcare stakeholders with data essential to closing gaps and reducing disparities for our vulnerable populations,” said Ashley Gray, Executive Director of Aligning for Health. “Our members have incredible experience in this area and we are excited to continue working with both offices on this bipartisan legislation.”

Aligning for Health has consistently championed policies that emphasize the importance of social determinants in shaping health outcomes. The reintroduction of this bill reaffirms our shared commitment to improving healthcare and addressing the root causes of health disparities.

We commend Senators Sullivan (R-AK) and Cortez Masto (D-NV) for their bipartisan leadership on this critical issue, and we urge Congress to pass this legislation without delay.

Administration Updates

CMS: New Notice of Funding Opportunity for Planning Grants to Address Continuity of Care for People Who Have Been Incarcerated (9/27) - CMS announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) making available funding for planning grants to state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies for addressing operational barriers and promoting continuity of care for Medicaid- and CHIP-eligible individuals who are inmates of a public institution. This includes state prisons, local and county jails, tribal jails, and youth correctional or detention facilities.

HRSA: State Maternal Health Innovation Maternal Health Annual Report (9/27) - HRSA issued a notice for information collection on a final rule, which would authorize awards for special projects of regional and national significance in maternal and child health. Comments are due October 27, 2024

US Senate: Sullivan, Cortez Masto Introduce Legislation to Identify Factors Influencing Health Outcomes (9/26) - Sens. Sullivan (R-AK) and Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the Utilizing National Data, Effectively Reforming Standards and Tools, to Address Negative Determinants of Health (UNDERSTAND Health) Act (S. 5182), which would require the collection of information regarding social determinants of health.

CMS: CMS Awards Health Equity Funding to Six New Grantees (9/26) - Six recipients have been awarded grants to expand our commitment to advancing health equity among the populations served by CMS programs. Each grantee received up to $237,500 in funding to support their projects, totaling $1,423,865 million in funding, which will examine critical public health disparities and increase health equity research capacities at minority-serving institutions.

USDA: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (9/20) - In 2023, approximately 86.5% of U.S. households were food secure, meaning they had consistent access to enough food for a healthy life, while 13.5% experienced food insecurity at some point during the year, an increase from 12.8% in 2022. Additionally, 5.1% of households faced very low food security, characterized by reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns, a figure consistent with the previous year.

US House of Representatives: National Food as Medicine Act (9/17) - Rep. Lee (D-CA) introduced the National Food as Medicine Act (H.R. 9631), which would establish and expand Food as Medicine programs.

SDoH & Health Equity in the News

AJMC: Increasing Access to Supportive Oncology Care Can Drive Health Equity (9/26) - Key barriers to integrating supportive care into value-based oncology include inadequate financial models that fail to align supportive care benefits with reimbursement structures, limiting the ability to demonstrate its impact on health outcomes and cost-effectiveness. Ensuring equitable access to supportive care for underserved communities requires a comprehensive care model that addresses universal needs—such as health education, resource coordination, navigation of the healthcare system, and psychosocial support—thereby promoting health equity regardless of socioeconomic status or location.

Healthleaders: Closing Health Equity Gaps: Data Solutions for Addressing SDOH (9/25) - Health equity remains a key priority in the healthcare industry as stakeholders work to address systemic inequities affecting millions of Americans, particularly through tackling social determinants of health (SDOH) that account for 80% of patient outcomes. Chronic diseases, especially diabetes, disproportionately impact marginalized populations, underscoring the necessity for targeted interventions; leveraging comprehensive data can facilitate these efforts and guide proactive measures to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities.

Health Affairs: Using Medicaid 1115 Reentry Waivers To Improve The Health Of People Leaving Incarceration (9/23) - Incarceration has significant negative health impacts, particularly affecting marginalized communities, and exacerbates health inequities. One promising policy strategy to address this is providing pre-release Medicaid coverage for incarcerated individuals, which is being implemented through Medicaid Section 1115 waivers, enabling states to offer essential health services and support smoother reentry into the community.

Healthcare IT News: AI Can Be a Key Health Equity Driver (9/20) - Dr. Antoine Keller, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Ochsner Lafayette Hospital, discusses how AI can promote health equity. He emphasizes that AI should not only be used to reduce implicit bias but also to improve access to healthcare for underserved communities. He highlights a portable diagnostics tool as an example of how AI can be leveraged to advance health equity.

New Research & Reports

JAMA: Social Risks and Health Care Use in Medically Complex Patients (9/27) - This study found that social risks are significantly associated with increased 1-year healthcare use among medically complex patients, suggesting that care management programs should consider social risks when designing interventions, particularly for older patients with complex conditions and younger patients to slow disease progression.

AHA: Interrelated Social Factors May Affect Cardiovascular Health in Asian American Subgroups (9/26) - A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association highlights that social determinants of health, such as immigration status, socioeconomic factors, and access to health care, contribute to differences in cardiovascular health among Asian American ethnic subgroups. Understanding these factors is crucial to address health disparities and improve cardiovascular outcomes for the diverse and rapidly growing Asian American population.

Upcoming Events

Conference: October 16-18, 2024 - Camden Coalition + UPMC, "Putting Care at the Center 2024" | Pittsburgh, PA