The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently released a comprehensive playbook that outlines measures to improve coordination between healthcare, public health, and social services. This 54-page resource is aimed at federal agencies, states, local and tribal governments to provide guidance on addressing social determinants of health.

The playbook details the various programs by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Environmental Protection Agency that are being implemented to support health by addressing social circumstances of individuals. These programs aim to align investments in community infrastructure, provide grants to empower communities in addressing health-related social needs, and promote coordinated use of resources and data to improve health outcomes.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the importance of addressing patients’ social conditions in order to holistically improve healthcare and public health during a recent announcement about the playbook’s release. He highlighted how access to stable housing, healthy food, and clean air can greatly impact people’s overall health. Secretary Becerra expressed his belief that focusing on these factors can help ensure equal access to healthcare for all Americans and contribute significantly to improving healthcare outcomes for everyone.

In addition to the playbook, HHS has also launched a call to action encouraging efforts towards addressing health-related social needs and introduced a Medicaid and CHIP health-related social needs framework designed to complement its content.

Overall, these resources aim to provide further support for initiatives aimed at tackling social determinants of health while creating opportunities for improved healthcare access and outcomes for all Americans.

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