WASHINGTON - Nemours Children’s Health congratulates Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-At Large) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FLA-12) on House passage of the CARING for Social Determinants of Health Act (H.R. 3894). Nemours Children’s is a leading advocate for policies to clarify how states can most effectively address the health and social needs of children through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
On June 24, Dr. Kara Odom Walker, executive vice president and chief population health officer at Nemours Children’s, testified before the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health about the importance of legislation to address social determinants of health (SDOH) and maternal health, including H.R. 3894.
The CARING for Social Determinants of Health Act now requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update guidance and provide examples of strategies that states can implement to address social determinants of health in the provision of health care. Notably, this legislation requires that the updated guidance include strategies targeting children covered by Medicaid and CHIP.
“Nemours Children’s Health is pleased to learn of the passage of the CARING for Social Determinants of Health Act by the House of Representatives. This would not have been possible without the tremendous bipartisan leadership of the Energy and Commerce Committee. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the many health-related social needs and disparities of children and families,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker. “Medicaid is an important lever for coordinating care and addressing those needs. This bill would ensure that as new bright spots and best practices emerge, that they are disseminated to each state to share what works quickly and efficiently.”
Nemours is committed to advancing policies and operational strategies that address SDOH. In 2018, Nemours co-convened child health experts, culminating in a report that called for the guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to impact policy across the country. This aligns with Nemours Children’s broader strategic vision and plan to create the healthiest generations of children. To help fulfill this vision, Nemours Children’s established itself as a Value-Based Services Organization (VBSO) with multiple prongs — medical management, data analytics and IT, population health management, and primary care. Our VBSO seeks to improve health outcomes, quality of care, accessibility, quality of life, and reduce costs. The VBSO also recently launched a screener to help identify the social needs of the patients and families that we serve.
About Nemours Children’s Health
Nemours Children’s Health is one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric health systems, which includes two free-standing children's hospitals and a network of nearly 75 primary and specialty care practices. Nemours seeks to transform the health of children by adopting a holistic health model that utilizes innovative, safe, and high quality care, while also caring for the health of the whole child beyond medicine. Nemours also powers the world’s most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, Nemours KidsHealth.org.
The Nemours Foundation, established through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to the children, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit Nemours.org.
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