The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a 54-page playbook aimed at improving coordination between healthcare, public health, and social services. The resource outlines measures taken by federal agencies to address social determinants of health, including programs by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

These programs aim to align investments in community infrastructure, provide grants to empower communities in addressing health-related social needs, and promote the coordinated use of resources and data to improve health outcomes.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the importance of addressing patients’ social conditions in order to holistically improve healthcare and public health. He discussed how access to stable housing, healthy food, and clean air can greatly impact people’s overall health.

In addition to the playbook, HHS has also introduced a call to action to address health-related social needs and a Medicaid and CHIP health-related social needs framework.

These resources aim to complement the content of the playbook and further support efforts to address social determinants of health while creating opportunities for improved healthcare access and outcomes for all Americans.

The playbook provides valuable guidance on how federal agencies can work together with state governments