Social determinants of health

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 [...]

iqtsupport2022-06-23T06:00:43-04:00June 23, 2022|COVID-19, social determinants of health|

MedPAC Meets

The government agency that advises Congress on Medicare payment matters met publicly in Washington, D.C. last week. During the virtual meeting, members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission discussed: addressing high prices of drugs covered under Medicare Part B initial findings from MedPAC's analysis of Part D data on drug rebates and discounts segmentation in the stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan market leveraging Medicare policies to address social determinants of health an approach to streamline and harmonize Medicare’s portfolio of alternative payment models aligning fee-for-service payment rates across ambulatory settings MedPAC is an independent congressional agency that advises Congress [...]

iqtsupport2022-04-12T06:00:14-04:00April 12, 2022|Alternative payment models, Medicare, MedPAC|

Medicaid as a Tool for Addressing Racial Health Inequities

Medicaid can be an important tool for addressing racial health inequities, the Kaiser Family Foundation suggests in a new issue brief. Among the measures involving Medicaid that might be undertaken to address racial health inequities and addressing social determinants of health, the brief suggests (in words taken directly from the issue brief): One significant action that would help close coverage disparities for people of color is adoption of the ACA Medicaid expansion in the 12 non-expansion states. Other expansions of Medicaid eligibility could also address racial disparities in coverage and access to care. Making it easier for eligible people to [...]

iqtsupport2022-03-25T06:00:31-04:00March 25, 2022|Affordable Care Act, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, COVID-19, health equity, Medicaid, Medicaid managed care, Medicaid regulations|

Hospitals, Insurers, City Government Launch Health Equity Effort

The pursuit of health equity is the subject of a new collaboration between health systems, health insurers, and a big city government. The new effort, dubbed “Accelerate Health Equity,” will seek to bring “…together organizations across the region to produce tangible improvement in health inequities, and ultimately achieve measurable, positive changes in health outcomes in Philadelphia.” Among the participants in the endeavor are AmeriHealth Caritas, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the City of Philadelphia, Drexel University, Independence Blue Cross, Jefferson Health, Main Line Health, Penn Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Temple Health, and Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic. The group envisions its [...]

iqtsupport2022-03-24T06:00:51-04:00March 24, 2022|health equity, Pennsylvania|

Feds Give States Direction for Addressing Social Determinants of Health

Federal laws, regulations, and programs offer numerous tools to states seeking to address social determinants of health through their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Now, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has written to state Medicaid directors outlining those tools. In the 51-page letter, CMS notes that Many Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries may face challenges related to SDOH [social determinants of health], including but not limited to access to nutritious food, affordable and accessible housing, convenient and efficient transportation, safe neighborhoods, strong social connections, quality education, and opportunities for meaningful employment. There is a growing body of evidence [...]

iqtsupport2021-01-15T06:00:58-05:00January 15, 2021|Medicaid|

Azar: More Value-Based Care Coming

Medicare may add more value-based care initiatives and alternative payment models to those it already operates, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar suggested at a recent event in Washington, D.C. During his remarks, Azar spoke about population health benefits, global budgeting for Medicare patients, more primary care programs, and new models that address kidney care and opioid use and hinted at future efforts that address social determinants of health. Learn more about Azar’s remarks about Medicare value-based purchasing and alternative payment models and other current federal health policy matters in the Healthcare Dive article “HHS chief keeps focus on [...]

iqtsupport2019-10-31T13:00:29-04:00October 31, 2019|Alternative payment models, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Can Medicare Feed its Way Out of Some Readmissions?

Feeding some Medicare patients after they are discharged from the hospital could reduce readmissions and save taxpayers millions, a new study has concluded. According to the new Bipartisan Policy Center report Next Steps in Chronic Care: Expanding Innovative Medicare Benefits, providing a limited number of free meals to certain Medicare patients could eliminate nearly 10,000 readmissions a year and save more than $57 million. Participating patients would be those with more than one of a limited number of chronic medical conditions and the meals would be for one week only. According to the report, more than 575,000 Medicare beneficiaries would [...]

iqtsupport2019-07-31T06:00:03-04:00July 31, 2019|Medicare|

New Bill Would Address Social Determinants of Health

The federal government would provide funding to help address social determinants of health within Medicaid populations under a new bill introduced in the House of Representatives last week. According to a legislative summary prepared by one of the bipartisan bill’s sponsors, Economic and social conditions have a powerful impact on our health and wellness. Stable housing, reliable transportation and access to healthy foods are all factors that can make a difference in the prevention and management of many health conditions like diabetes, asthma and heart disease. Known as social determinants of health, a focus on these non-medical factors can improve [...]

iqtsupport2019-07-29T06:00:11-04:00July 29, 2019|Congress|

The Role of Medicaid in Addressing Social Determinants of Health

Medicaid can play a major role in addressing the social determinants of health. Or so argues a recent post on the Health Affairs Blog. According to the post, social determinants of health – income, education, decent housing, access to food, and more – significantly influence the health and well-being of individuals – including low-income individuals who have adequate access to quality health care. Medicaid, the post maintains, can play a major role in addressing social determinants of health. The post outlines the role state Medicaid programs can play in addressing social determinants of health; describes tools for such action such [...]

iqtsupport2019-07-10T06:00:27-04:00July 10, 2019|Medicaid|

Groups Work to Create New Codes for Social Determinants

Social determinants of health could have their own ICD-10 codes if a new initiative from the American Medical Association and United Healthcare succeeds. The two are working together to develop new ICD-10 codes that would take into consideration social determinants of health such as housing and food security, access to transportation, and ability to pay for medicine. The project launches at a time when research suggests that social determinants of health can affect nearly 80 percent of health care outcomes. Learn more in the Health Analytics IT article “AMA, UnitedHealth Partner for Social Determinants ICD-10 Project.”

iqtsupport2019-04-08T06:00:59-04:00April 8, 2019|Uncategorized|