WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and 6 of his Senate colleagues have introduced legislation to study the impact of social determinants of health (SDOHs) and how they make health inequalities worse – especially in communities of color – and seek to improve health outcomes for them. The Improving Social Determinants of Health Act would authorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to begin work on improving health outcomes by taking into account the role of factors such as unemployment, hunger, lack of affordable housing, and education, not just medical care and treatment.

“Health outcomes aren’t only determined by access to a doctor or medicine; sometimes it comes down to our zip code or household income, which is why it’s vital that we start to think about healthcare as something that continues beyond the physician’s office,” said Senator King. “Do you have a safe place to sleep? A job that allows you to take paid time off for recovery? Access to healthy nutrition? These are vital questions, because there’s no pill that can do away with the importance of these basic human needs. Social determinants of health are a critical factor into why health inequalities persist in our nation, especially within communities of color – so let’s devote time and resources to trying to address these challenges and improve the health of all Americans.”

Senator King’s legislation, endorsed by more than 195 organizations across the country, would authorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to create a program to improve health outcomes, reduce health inequities, and improve capacity of public health agencies and community organizations to address SDOHs. This legislation will:

·       Coordinate across CDC to ensure programs consider and incorporate social determinants of health in grants and activities.

·       Award grants to state, local, territorial, and Tribal health agencies to address social determinants of health in target communities.

·       Award grants to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education to conduct research on best practices for addressing the social determinants of health.

·       Coordinate, support, and align social determinant of health activities at the CDC with other federal agencies.

·       Collect and analyze data related to social determinant of health activities.

·       Authorize $50 million annually for program activities.