Collecting and Analyzing Resources Integral and Necessary for Guidance for Social Determinants Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3894) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue and disseminate guidance to States to clarify strategies to address social determinants of health under the Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3894

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Collecting and Analyzing Resources Integral and Necessary for Guidance for Social Determinants Act of 2021'' or the ``CARING for Social Determinants Act of 2021''. SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT TO ISSUE GUIDANCE TO CLARIFY STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN THE MEDICAID PROGRAM AND THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.

Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall update the State Health Office letter 21-001, issued on January 7, 2021, to clarify strategies to address social determinants of health under the Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Such update shall include the following:

(1) Guidance to State Medicaid agencies regarding the strategies that States can implement under authorities in existence as of such update under title XIX of the Social Security Act, title XXI of such Act, or section 1115 of such Act to address social determinants of health in the provision of health care, including strategies specifically targeting children receiving medical assistance under a State plan under title XIX of such Act (or a waiver of such plan) or child health assistance under a State child health plan under title XXI of such Act.

(2) Guidance on how States can encourage and incentivize managed care entities to address social determinants of health through contracts with such entities.

(3) Updated examples from States with respect to how States are addressing social determinants of health in the provision of health care under the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act and the Children's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of such Act, including through payment models.

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Mr. PALLONE. 3894.

Mr. Speaker, environmental factors can have a tremendous effect on an individual's health. Where a person lives, their level of education, their food security, and many other aspects of a person's life, can affect their health and well-being. These are often called the social determinants of health.

Healthcare providers and insurance plans are looking more and more at addressing some of these social determinants in order to improve individual health. State Medicaid programs have been especially engaged on this front.

Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult for States and insurance plans to understand the various authorities available in Medicaid to address the social determinants of health. Likewise, it can also be difficult to see how other States are using those authorities in creative new ways.

H.R. 3894, the Collecting and Analyzing Resources Integral and Necessary for Guidance for Social Determinants Act, will give States a valuable new resource to ensure that they are able to use Medicaid to the fullest extent possible.

H.R. 3894 will ensure that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regularly updates its guidance to States on how they can use Medicaid to address the social determinants of health. It will also require CMS to provide examples of how other States are using Medicaid to address the social and environmental factors that can affect people's health.

I want to thank Representatives Blunt Rochester and Burgess for their work on this important bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no Members who wish to speak, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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