House holds hearing on legislation to improve public health

The House Energy and Commerce Committee today held a hearing on several AHA-supported bills to advance public health by focusing on social determinants of health and data collection.

The AHA-supported Social Determinants Accelerator Act (H.R. 2503) would provide planning grants and technical assistance to help states and communities address the social determinants of health for high-need Medicaid patients. 

The Data to Save Moms Act (H.R. 925) and Social Determinants for Moms Act (H.R. 943) are two of the AHA-supported provisions included in the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. H.R. 925 would authorize grants to engage representative community members in maternal mortality review committees, and direct the Health and Human Services Secretary to work with stakeholders to improve maternal health data collection and quality measures. H.R. 943 would direct the HHS Secretary to convene a task force to coordinate federal efforts to address social determinants of maternal health.

The Improving Social Determinants of Health Act (H.R. 379), which AHA supports as part of its work with Aligning for Health, would create a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program to coordinate federal efforts to address social determinants of health. The program also would award grants to address SDOHs and disseminate best practices.

Witnesses at the hearing included Kara Odom Walker, M.D., executive vice president and chief population health officer for Nemours Children's Health System, who voiced support for legislation to reduce disparities, promote equity and address maternal health.