WASHINGTON, DC (October 21, 2021) – Aligning for Health, a coalition of leading health insurers, providers, and vendors, is proud to support the re-introduction of the Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2021 in the Senate, a bipartisan piece of legislation introduced by Sens. Stabenow (D-MI) and Young (R-IN). Reps. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Tom Cole (R-OK), Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) introduced the House companion of the bill earlier this year (H.R. 2503).

The Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2021 will help states and communities devise strategies to leverage existing programs and authorities to address all aspects of health, including food, housing, transportation, and workforce.

Economic and social conditions have a powerful impact on our health and wellness. Known as social determinants of health, a focus on these non-medical factors can improve health outcomes and wellbeing and address disparities. States, local, and Tribal governments are increasingly looking to develop and expand high-impact initiatives that encourage and incentivize collaboration between Medicaid programs and social services programs. However, state, local, and Tribal governments often face challenges in successfully implementing these initiatives due to difficulties in navigating fragmented and complex programs.

The Social Determinants Accelerator Act will provide planning grants and technical assistance to state, local, and Tribal governments who want to devise innovative, evidence-based approaches to coordinate programs and services to improve health and wellbeing for underserved populations, particularly those with unmet health and social needs.

The bipartisan legislation was previously introduced in the House in July 2019, and in the Senate in December 2019.

“Aligning for Health is proud to support the reintroduction of the Social Determinants Accelerator Act,” said Melissa Quick, co-chair of Aligning for Health, “The legislation will catalyze cross-sector collaboration and will give state and local officials the resources they need to get beyond the siloes and develop innovative solutions to complex problems.”

About Aligning for Health – Aligning for Health members include: Alliance for Better Health, American Hospital Association, Aunt Bertha, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, CareSource, Signify Health, UPMC Health Plan, Unite Us, Vizient, Inc., and 3M Health Information Systems.

Additional information about Aligning for Health may be found at www.AligningforHealth.org

Supporting Organizations

The Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2021 has been endorsed by several organizations, including: Aligning for Health, Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors, Acelero Learning, achi, Activate Care, Adagio Health, Alameda County Public Health Department, Alliance for Better Health, America Forward, American Association of Service Coordinators, American Association on Health and Disability, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine, America’s Essential Hospitals, America’s Health Insurance Plans, America’s Promise Alliance, AMGA, Amida Care, Anthem, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Association of American Medical Colleges, Aunt Bertha, Aurora Institute, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Bree Collaborative, CareSource, Centene, Change Healthcare, Children’s Hospital Association, Citizen Schools, City Year Inc., College of American Pathologists, Community ConneXor, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Council on Social Work Education, CyncHealth, Early Learning Alliance, eHealth Initiative, Enterprise Community Partners, Families USA, Forum for Youth Investment, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, GreenLight Fund, Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center, Healthcare Leadership Council, Hep Free Hawaii, Humana, iMentor, Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE), Institute for Child Success, Johns Hopkins University, Johnson & Johnson, KidSucceed LLC, Lakeshore Foundation, Let’s Grow Kids, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Lutheran Services in America, Macoupin County Public Health Department, Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc., Maycomb Capital Community Outcomes Fund, Meals on Wheels America, Medical Group Management Association, Molina, Nashville Health Disparities Coalition, National Alliance to impact the Social Determinants of Health (NASDOH), National Association of Accountable Care Organizations (NAACOS), National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, National Association of Counties, National Association of Social Workers, National Coalition on Health Care, National League of Cities, Nemours Children’s Health System, New Profit, New Teacher Center, Nonprofit Finance Fund, Nurse-Family Partnership, Orange County Board of Supervisors, Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, Penn Center for Community Health Workers, Population Health Alliance, Primary Care Collaborative, Project Evident, Purchaser Business Group on Health, Quantified Ventures, REDF, Results for America, Roca, Share Our Strength, Signify Health, Single Stop, SNP Alliance, Social Finance, Socially Determined, Solera, Springboard Collaborative, SSM Health, StriveTogether, The Community Transportation Association of America, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, The Root Cause Coalition, Tivity Health, TransUnion Healthcare, Uber Health, UPMC Health Plan, URAC, Vizient, Inc., WelCore Health LLC, Wester Governors Association, Wholesome Wave, Wyman Center, and YMCA of the USA.