HHS approves Arizona's Medicaid interventions to target health-related social needs
The initiative will focus on housing insecurity and will also offer case management, outreach and education.
Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
The Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has approved Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration initiatives in Arizona that will help the state take aim at health-related social needs.
As recently approved demonstrations in Oregon and Massachusetts, Arizona's demonstration will test innovative interventions that target critical drivers of health outcomes, including housing insecurity.
According to HHS, the approval builds on the American Rescue Plan and other efforts to direct federal agencies to shore up accessible health coverage, including by strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
"Everyone deserves the chance to receive the care they need to live safe and healthy lives," said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. "We are proud to work with Arizona in this groundbreaking effort. We will continue doing all we can to strengthen Medicaid and urge states to follow Arizona's lead."
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
CMS has authorized the state to advance solutions to a key health-related social need: housing insecurity.
Through the Housing and Health Opportunities program, Arizona will provide services to help more people become and remain stably housed; support for community and transitional housing for those who have unique clinical needs or who are transitioning out of institutional care; and rent and temporary housing for up to six months for individuals transitioning out of places such as congregate settings, homeless shelters and the child welfare system; and a range of other options to transition more people out of homelessness.
The Arizona Medicaid program will also offer case management, outreach and education to advance those services. CMS is approving health-related social infrastructure funding to support the state's efforts. The agency will require the state to monitor the demonstration systematically and conduct an independent evaluation to determine outcomes and impacts.
The housing support services CMS has advanced through recent 1115 demonstration approvals will test interventions that could help stabilize the housing situations of eligible Medicaid enrollees, improve their use of needed healthcare, and increase the likelihood they will keep receiving and benefitting from services to which they are entitled, the administration said.
THE LARGER TREND
CMS approved the demonstration initiatives in Massachusetts and Oregon just last month. The idea is to ensure more eligible people retain Medicaid coverage, including by approving Oregon's demonstration to keep children enrolled in Medicaid up to age 6 – potentially preventing gaps in coverage that can cause children to lose access to care in their formative early years.
These initiatives also take steps to address unmet health-related social needs, such as by giving the two states new authority to test coverage for evidence-based nutritional assistance and medically tailored meals, clinically tailored housing supports and other interventions for certain beneficiaries where there is a clinical need.
These efforts coincide with the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, where the Biden Administration released its national strategy to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and reduce diet-related diseases and disparities – all goals supported by the new initiatives.
Housing insecurity, which the Arizona initiative is meant to address, has been in the crosshairs of health insurers, including UnitedHealth Group, which in April announced it was investing an additional $100 million toward affordable housing initiatives with a focus on the Health and Housing Fund, a partnership with Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future and National Affordable Housing Trust.
Affordable housing has been an ongoing investment priority for UHG, which owns the nation's largest insurer, UnitedHealthcare. To date, the company's investments total roughly $800 million, and according to a statement, this has resulted in the creation of nearly 19,000 homes for those struggling with housing insecurity.
Kaiser Permanente also joined the ranks of healthcare organizations making investments in affordable housing, pledging $400 million toward economic development and housing. This doubles the nonprofit organization's financial commitment to its Thriving Communities social impact investment fund.
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com
