U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) on Oct. 21 sponsored a bipartisan bill to help improve health outcomes across the nation by addressing the economic and social conditions impacting Americans.
“A person’s health should not be dependent on where they live or the economic challenges they face,” Sen. Young said. “If we attack the challenges, such as reliable transportation and affordable housing, that negatively impact the health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens, we can make our citizens healthier.”
The Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2021, S. 3039, which is cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), would provide grants for state, local and tribal governments to develop strategies that target social determinants negatively impacting the nation’s most vulnerable populations, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Young’s staff.
If enacted, S. 3039 also would establish a federal interagency council to help grantees identify federal authorities, opportunities and strategies to tackle the related challenges, the summary says, noting that addressing these factors can have a meaningful impact on the prevention and management of chronic diseases in communities around the country.
Numerous organizations and companies have endorsed the measure, including Aligning for Health, Unite Us, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Vizient, 3M Health Information Systems, Aunt Bertha, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the American Association on Health and Disability, the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, Children’s Hospital Association, the Healthcare Leadership Council, Johnson & Johnson, KidSucceed LLC, and the National Alliance to impact the Social Determinants of Health, among dozens of others.
S. 3039 is the identical bill to H.R. 2503, which was sponsored in April by U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and 22 original cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK).