AHIMA January 12, 2021
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance last week to state health officials aimed at increasing adoption of strategies that address social determinants of health (SDOH) in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
As CMS notes in its guidance, many Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries face challenges related to SDOH, such as limited to access to nutritious food, affordable and accessible housing, convenient and efficient transportation, safe neighborhoods, strong social connections, quality education, and opportunities for meaningful employment.
The guidance gives numerous examples of ways states “can leverage existing flexibilities under federal law to tackle adverse health outcomes that can be impacted by SDOH and supports states with designing programs, benefits, and services that can more...