The publication is reproduced in full below:
COLLECTING AND ANALYZING RESOURCES INTEGRAL AND NECESSARY FOR GUIDANCE
FOR SOCIAL DETERMINANTS ACT OF 2021
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3894) 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, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3894
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 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''.
SEC. 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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3894.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, environmental factors can have a tremendous effect on an individual's health. Where a person lives, their level of education, their food security, and many other aspects of a person's life, can affect their health and well-being. These are often called the social determinants of health.
Healthcare providers and insurance plans are looking more and more at addressing some of these social determinants in order to improve individual health. State Medicaid programs have been especially engaged on this front.
Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult for States and insurance plans to understand the various authorities available in Medicaid to address the social determinants of health. Likewise, it can also be difficult to see how other States are using those authorities in creative new ways.
H.R. 3894, the Collecting and Analyzing Resources Integral and Necessary for Guidance for Social Determinants Act, will give States a valuable new resource to ensure that they are able to use Medicaid to the fullest extent possible.
H.R. 3894 will ensure that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regularly updates its guidance to States on how they can use Medicaid to address the social determinants of health. It will also require CMS to provide examples of how other States are using Medicaid to address the social and environmental factors that can affect people's health.
I want to thank Representatives Blunt Rochester and Burgess for their work on this important bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3894, the CARING for Social Determinants Act of 2021, a bill led by Representatives Blunt Rochester and Bilirakis.
Research shows that socioeconomic conditions, such as job loss, lack of transportation, inadequate housing, among others, can contribute to poor health outcomes.
The Trump administration took a key step at the beginning of this year by releasing guidance to States on how to better utilize Medicaid to support social determinants of health. It provided real-world examples that States are taking to improve outcomes for beneficiaries.
For example, Medicaid managed care plans in my home State of Kentucky are leading the way by using care coordinators to connect vulnerable beneficiaries to social support services like food pantries and daycare services.
The CARING for Social Determinants Act would require HHS to update this guidance every 3 years in order to drive future innovation in State Medicaid programs.
I am proud of the important steps this bill takes to improve health outcomes for some of our most vulnerable populations.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no Members who wish to speak, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member and the chairman of the committee and, of course, the ranking member of the full committee, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, for their work on this bill.
I am honored to be here today to speak in support of H.R. 3894 and would like to thank my colleague and friend, Representative Blunt Rochester, for sponsoring this important piece of legislation. This is a really good bill.
I also want to thank my esteemed colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their continued bipartisan efforts to benefit American patients under innovative delivery models through increased data.
The CARING for Social Determinants Act, which I proudly co-lead, would provide routine guidance and strategies to States to address the social determinants of health under the Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP program.
This bill also solidifies States' authority to continue innovative waiver payment models, which consequently improves Medicaid beneficiaries' health outcomes.
This is really a great bill, Mr. Speaker, and I want to thank the chairman. We truly do work in a bipartisan fashion in this committee, in most cases.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this bill.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3894, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion are postponed.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 206
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