SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) Social determinants of health are the condi-
tions in which people are born, grow, live, play, work 
and age; they include factors like socioeconomic sta-
tus, education, housing, transportation, nutrition 
and literacy. 
(2) Research has shown that addressing social 
determinants of health is important for improving 
overall health and reducing health inequities. 
(3) Social determinants that negatively impact 
health can have harmful neurodevelopmental and bi-
ological consequences that develop in childhood and 
manifest in adulthood. 
(4) There is a growing body of evidence sug-
gesting that policies that specifically address social 
needs, including policies targeting children and fami-
lies, can improve community health outcomes and 
have the potential to reduce health care spending. 
(5) Some State Medicaid programs have begun 
testing innovative delivery and payment models de-
signed to improve health outcomes and reduce costs 
by implementing strategies to address social deter-
minants of health under existing Medicaid authori-
ties as well as through the use of waivers, though 
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payment incentives linked to social determinant of 
health are not common. 
(6) Despite a growing focus on social deter-
minants of health in State managed care contracts, 
most States do not provide necessary guidance for 
managed care organizations as to how they may use 
existing authority under Federal law to provide pa-
tients with services that can improve health by ad-
dressing social determinants. 
(7) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
guidance and technical assistance are critical tools 
that could increase adoption of strategies to address 
social determinants of health among State Medicaid 
agencies. 
(b) PURPOSES.—It is the purpose of this Act to pro-
vide States with additional operational clarity and exam-
ples of the strategies they can leverage through existing 
authority and waivers to address social determinants of 
health for the Medicaid population. 
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SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO ISSUE GUIDANCE TO CLARIFY 
STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETER-
MINANTS OF HEALTH IN THE MEDICAID PRO-
GRAM AND THE CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSUR-
ANCE PROGRAM. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall 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. Such guidance shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Guidance and technical assistance to State 
Medicaid agencies regarding the strategies that 
States can implement under existing authorities 
under title XI, XIX, or XXI of the Social Security 
Act, or through waivers, to address social deter-
minants of health in the provision of health care, in-
cluding strategies specifically targeting the pediatric 
population. 
(2) Guidance and technical assistance on how 
States can encourage and incentivize managed care 
organizations to address social determinants of 
health through contracts with such organizations. 
(3) A compendium of examples from States 
with respect to how States are currently addressing 
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social determinants of health in the provision of 
health care under the Medicaid program and the 
Children’s Health Insurance Program, including 
through payment models. 
Æ 
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