AHA, others call for hearing on bill to address social determinants of health

Members of the Aligning for Health coalition, whose members include the AHA, yesterday along with other organizations urged leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to hold a hearing on the Social Determinants Accelerator Act (H.R. 4004) and other opportunities to address the social determinants of health.
 
“As organizations committed to improving health and wellbeing by addressing individual and community social needs, we write to express our support for passage of the Social Determinants Accelerator Act (H.R. 4004),” the coalition said. “We urge the Committee to hold a hearing to discuss current challenges and opportunities in addressing social determinants of health, including H.R. 4004.”
 
Introduced in July by Reps. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., Tom Cole, R-Okla., Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., the legislation would provide planning grants and technical assistance to help states and communities address the social determinants of health for high-need Medicaid patients. Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., last month introduced a Senate version (S. 2986) of the bill.