social determinants of health

Federal Health Policy Update for April 7

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for March 31 – April 7. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House President Biden has signed an executive order calling for the modernization of the regulatory review process. Among other objectives, the order seeks to improve the effectiveness of the regulatory review process and promote inclusive regulatory policy and public participation. The order gives the Office of Management and Budget, through its Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs and in consultation with the Council of Economic Advisers and representatives [...]

admin2023-04-07T17:07:33+00:00April 7, 2023|Alternative payment models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, COVID-19, health equity, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC, social determinants of health|

The Emergence of “Food as Medicine”

In both the public and private sectors, a growing movement is working to integrate food as part of medical treatment – and have health care payers foot the bill. From the administration’s granting of Medicaid waivers to Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Oregon to use state and federal money to pay for food for some beneficiaries to Congress tucking $2 million into an appropriations bill for a “food is medicine pilot program” to the NIH developing a $140 million grant program that will lead to the designation of “food is medicine centers of excellence,” providers and policy-makers are showing unprecedented interest in [...]

admin2023-02-27T06:00:08+00:00February 27, 2023|health equity, Medicaid, Medicare, social determinants of health|

Results of Annual Survey of State Medicaid Programs

The Kaiser Family Foundation has published the results of its annual survey of state Medicaid programs for the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years. Among the survey’s findings (in language taken directly from the Kaiser report): More than 3/4 of states that contract with MCOs [managed care organizations] enroll ≥75% of all beneficiaries in MCOs Some states reported newly implementing or expanding MCO programs States also report continued use of other service delivery and payment system reforms Two-thirds of states are using strategies to improve race, ethnicity, and language data About one-quarter of states are tying MCO financial incentives to health [...]

admin2022-10-27T06:00:07+00:00October 27, 2022|COVID-19, Medicaid, Medicaid long-term services and supports, Medicaid managed care, social determinants of health, Telehealth|

COVID Drugs Experiencing Arguably Inequitable Distribution

The distribution of COVID-19 drugs could be exhibit A in the argument that inadequate access to care is a major social determinant of health. At least that’s a conclusion that might be drawn based on a new CDC study. According to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis, the rate at which COVID-19 drug therapies are being distributed “…were lowest in high vulnerability zip codes, despite these zip codes having the largest number of dispensing sites.” The study observes that “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated long-standing inequities in the social determinants of health.” Despite this, federal [...]

admin2022-06-23T06:00:43+00:00June 23, 2022|COVID-19, social determinants of health|

Using Medicaid Money to Pay the Rent?

Some people think the time has come for Medicaid to help pay for housing for the homeless in the name of health and health equity. “In the last decade Medicaid has inched toward acknowledging the interconnectedness of housing and health,” the New York Times reports, adding that “It has encouraged more state Medicaid programs to cover housing-related costs like furniture or security deposits – basically everything except paying the rent.” In addition, most conversations about social determinants of health identify housing insecurity as a major obstacle to good health and health equity. The Bush and Obama administrations invested in creating [...]

admin2022-06-15T11:24:04+00:00June 15, 2022|health equity, Medicaid, Medicaid and homelessness, social determinants of health|