CMS Issues Guidance to States Regarding Social Determinants of Health Strategies

On January 7, 2021, CMS issued a guidance letter to state health officials describing opportunities under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to address social determinants of health (SDOH). The guidance letter, entitled Opportunities in Medicaid and CHIP to Address Social Determinants of Health, purports to assist states in designing programs, benefits, and services to improve population health, reduce disability, and lower overall healthcare costs in the Medicaid and CHIP programs by addressing SDOH. The guidance letter supersedes a 2015 Information Bulletin focusing on housing-related activities and services for individuals with disabilities. The newly issued guidance letter does not provide new flexibilities or opportunities under Medicaid and CHIP to address SDOH but rather describes how states may address SDOH under current law.