WASHINGTON, DC (November 17, 2023) – Aligning for Health, a leading advocacy coalition focused on improving health through improved coordination of services addressing health and social needs, applauds the White House for publishing the first ever U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health. Aligning for Health has long advocated for a comprehensive national plan to address the social determinants of health, through both its engagement with the Administration and bipartisan legislation in Congress — and the playbook represents important progress toward this goal.

Aligning for Health appreciated the opportunity to work with the Administration in developing this pivotal shift in how the U.S. perceives and addresses the nexus of health care and social. We look forward to continuing to support the White House in the implementation of this plan.  Key shared priorities in the plan include (1) enabling appropriate data collection; (2) supporting flexible funding to support health and social need integration; and (3) supporting innovative organizations facilitating this work. The creation of an SDOH Data Working Group, guidance on improving health-related social needs (HRSNs), and integrating supports for underserved populations will advance progress towards better coordinated care and also drive evidence supporting the value of these interventions.

“The release of this Playbook and agency resources is the product of years of work to enhance the efficacy of our health system, improve cost savings for individuals and the federal government, and provide people with the care they deserve,” said Aligning for Health chair Krista Drobac. “We look forward to supporting the Administration to change how we collectively support the health and social needs of Americans at the federal, state, and local level.

Building on this historic announcement, Aligning for Health and RISE will be hosting the White House at the SDOH Policy Forum on December 5 and 6 in Washington, D.C. The conference will also feature bipartisan conversations on how new investments in social needs can increase the government’s return on investment in health and social service programs, as well as improve health outcomes for some of our most vulnerable patients.

Click here for our press release.

Aligning for Health submitted comments in response CMS’s recently proposed rule from CMS to add a Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Risk Assessment to Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit (AWV), which acts as a no-cost annual physician exam for beneficiaries. Pending the outcome of the SDOH Risk Assessment, CMS is also proposing partnerships with community-based organizations to provide Community Health Integration (CHI) and Principal Illness Navigation (PIN) services to beneficiaries.

“Aligning for Health strongly supports the addition of an SDOH Risk Assessment as an optional, additional element of the AWV. Identifying social needs as part of the AWV will allow a practitioner to concurrently evaluate all health and social needs and to work with the beneficiary, consistent with their goals and preferences, to develop a comprehensive plan of care to address any identified needs.”

“Aligning for Health applauds CMS for providing sustainable funding to better connect the health and social services sectors and ensure that funding can flow where the referrals are going to support CHI and PIN services. These investments to connect health care entities and social services organizations can help to reimburse CHWs and CBOs for their time and resources and understand the true cost of, and where such organizations are successful in, addressing basic needs.”

To read our comments, click here or see below: