Question

Explain how the Affordable Care Act incorporated social determinants of health into health policy.

Answer 1

Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people live, grow, born, work and age. These factors are responsible for the health inequalities. These factors can impact population health outcomes. With increased attention to this area, federal,state and private initiatives are emerging to integrate community services with clinical health. In January 2016, the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) developed Accountable Health Communities Model that focused on social determinants of health.

Under ACA, some states have adopted Medicaid expansion that would ease the efforts of two determinants of health: socioeconomic status and health care access. The ACA also includes provisions aimed at reducing racial and ethinic health disparities.The Centers for Mediacaid and Medicare Innovation is encouraging integration of social determinants into health care through its State Innovation Models Initiative by providing financial and technical support to develop new payments and delivery models improving performance and quality of care and decreases costs. Through all theses various schemes and projects the ACA has incorporated social determinants of health in health policy.