Azar previews HHS plans to address social determinants of health

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar today previewed the agency’s plans to better address social determinants of health. “We believe we could spend less money on health care – and most important, help Americans live healthier lives – if we did a better job of aligning federal health investments with our investments in non-health care needs,” Azar said at a Hatch Foundation for Civility and Solutions event in Washington. He added, “Just like how every patient is different in health care, every person has unique social service needs – and we are intent on designing models that connect them to the services they need, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach … What if we provided solutions for the whole person, including addressing housing, nutrition and other social needs? What if we gave organizations more flexibility so they could pay a beneficiary’s rent if they were in unstable housing, or make sure that a diabetic had access to, and could afford, nutritious food? If that sounds like an exciting idea … I want you to stay tuned to what [the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation] is up to.”