CARING for Social Determinants Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-3894
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE-At Large]
Introduced: 2021-06-15
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health

Government information and archives

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Medicaid

Minority health

Poverty and welfare assistance

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2021-12-09
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-06-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Collecting and Analyzing Resources Integral and Necessary for Guidance for Social Determinants Act of 2021 or the CARING for Social Determinants Act of </b><b>2021</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services to periodically update guidance to help states address social determinants of health (e.g., socioeconomic factors) under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).</p>

action_date: 2021-11-30
action_desc: Reported to House
text: <p><b>Collecting and Analyzing Resources Integral and Necessary for Guidance for Social Determinants Act of 2021 or the CARING for Social Determinants Act of </b><b>2021</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services to periodically update specified guidance to help states address social determinants of health (e.g., socioeconomic factors) under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).</p>

action_date: 2021-12-08
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><b>Collecting and Analyzing Resources Integral and Necessary for Guidance for Social Determinants Act of 2021 or the CARING for Social Determinants Act of </b><b>2021</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services to periodically update specified guidance to help states address social determinants of health (e.g., socioeconomic factors) under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3894 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 15, 2021 Ms. Blunt Rochester (for herself and Mr. Bilirakis ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL 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.

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 . 2. Findings; purpose (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, play, work and age; they include factors like socioeconomic status, 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 biological consequences that develop in childhood and manifest in adulthood. (4) There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that policies that specifically address social needs, including policies targeting children and families, 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 designed to improve health outcomes and reduce costs by implementing strategies to address social determinants of health under existing Medicaid authorities as well as through the use of waivers, though payment incentives linked to social determinant of health are not common. (6) Despite a growing focus on social determinants 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 patients with services that can improve health by addressing 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 provide States with additional operational clarity and examples of the strategies they can leverage through existing authority and waivers to address social determinants of health for the Medicaid population. 3. 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 2 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 guidance to States 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 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 determinants of health in the provision of health care, including 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 updated compendium of examples from States with respect to how States are currently addressing 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. (4) Such guidance and compendium shall be updated at least every 3 years after the initial update.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 137 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3894 [Report No. 117–187] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 15, 2021 Ms. Blunt Rochester (for herself and Mr. Bilirakis ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce November 30, 2021 Additional sponsor: Mr. Ruiz November 30, 2021 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 15, 2021 A BILL 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.

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 . 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.

November 30, 2021 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3894 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT 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.

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 . 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.

Passed the House of Representatives December 8, 2021. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3894 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 9, 2021 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance AN ACT 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.

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 . 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.

Passed the House of Representatives December 8, 2021. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.