On December 23, the president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) praised the introduction of Senate Bill 2986, a bipartisan proposal aimed at addressing social barriers to health, such as housing, healthy food, and reliable transportation, for Medicaid enrollees. The bill was introduced by Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) S. 2986 on December 5.
In a statement, Matt Eyles said, “Seventy percent of a person’s health is influenced by non-medical factors, including the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. Knowing this, health insurance providers are committed to building new solutions to address social barriers such as housing insecurity or social isolation, and improve the health of the people we serve. We commend Senators Stabenow and Young for their leadership and commitment to addressing social determinants of health. This proposal will strengthen the partnerships between Medicaid Managed Care Plans and community-based organizations to build effective solutions to tackle social barriers, drive value, and improve whole-person care for millions of Americans.”
Further, Eyles said, “We look forward to working with Congress, local policymakers, doctors, hospitals, and community leaders to improve whole person and community health, enhance quality of life, and drive down costs for everyone.”
The Washington, D.C.-based AHIP represents major health plans nationwide.
