Identifying housing as a key driver of health outcomes, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are collaborating under a new American guide to addressing the social determinants of health.
HHS has also announced a new Medicaid and CHIP Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) Framework to help states support clinically appropriate, evidence-based interventions to support the housing and nutrition needs of certain Medicaid enrollees, such as providing medically tailored meals to pregnant and postpartum women, or helping people with chronic health conditions that are homeless to find and obtain accommodation. Medicaid services provided under this Framework will complement existing HUD programs, including Housing Choice Vouchers and Homeless Assistance Grants.
Through HHS and HUD’s Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC), HUD will continue to provide information to states and communities on how to best leverage Medicaid to cover housing-related HRSNs and coordinate these services with HUD programs. .
The HSRC is operated in partnership by HHS, HUD, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Within HHS, the partnership is led by the Administration for Community Living and includes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). , the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Administration for Children and Families, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). The Health Resources and Services Administration is also supporting complementary efforts to fund technical assistance to states to support the development and implementation of sustainable financing of health and housing programs.
Earlier this month, HUD and HHS announced they will select up to four states to receive federal technical assistance through the Housing and Services Partnerships Accelerator to help implement Medicaid housing-related HRSNs in coordination with HUD and HHS programs. state and local housing.
The Accelerator will support states with Medicaid programs working to expand innovative housing-related supports and services through section 1115 demonstrations for people with disabilities and older adults who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless . In particular, the Accelerator will bring together interdisciplinary teams from four states to address common problems, such as navigating payment models and rates, data integration and sharing, and more.
“Housing is critical to lifelong health and success. Today’s Playbook and Action Set are important steps in our efforts to advance health equity,” HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said in a statement. “HUD continues to work with our partners across the Administration and the country to coordinate housing, health care and supportive services that allow Americans to thrive. “I encourage HUD grantees and partners to use the Playbook to inform their work and engagement.”
