The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health approved 19 bills including some related to health equity, maternal health, and social determinants of health on July 15.
The Subcommittee unanimously advanced the AAMC-endorsed Social Determinants Accelerator Act (SDAA, H.R. 2503) [refer to Washington Highlights, April 23], the Supporting Medicaid in the U.S. Territories Act (H.R. 4406). and the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2021 (H.R. 4387). The subcommittee also advanced the Data to Save Moms Act (H.R. 925), which is part of the AAMC-supported Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (H.R. 959) [refer to Washington Highlights, Feb. 12].
Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.) introduced an amendment in the nature of a substitute for the SDAA, which included provisions from the Improving Social Determinants of Health Act of 2021 (H.R. 379). The amended bill would authorize the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) program within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which would provide grants to states and local governments, nonprofit agencies, and community health centers to address SDOH.
The legislation also would authorize an interagency technical advisory panel, including program experts from across the federal government, to address SDOH. The House Appropriations Committee is proposing $153 million in fiscal year 2022 funding for the CDC SDOH program authorized in the SDAA [see related story].
Subcommittee Chair Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) noted that the full Energy and Commerce Committee will consider the approved legislation in the near future.