Posted on 11/26/2018 5:27:09 PM PST by spintreebob
HHS Secretary Alex Azar on Wednesday said Medicaid may soon allow hospitals and health systems to directly pay for housing, healthy food or other solutions for the "whole person."
In a speech supported by the Hatch Foundation for Civility and Solutions and Intermountain Healthcare in Washington, Azar said Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation officials are looking to move beyond existing efforts to partner with social services groups and try to manage social determinants of health as they see appropriate.
"What if we gave organizations more flexibility so they could pay a beneficiary's rent if they were in unstable housing, or make sure that a diabetic had access to, and could afford, nutritious food?" Azar said in his prepared remarks. "If that sounds like an exciting idea ... I want you to stay tuned to what CMMI is up to."
HHS spends over $1 trillion a year on healthcare for seniors and low-income people through Medicare and Medicaid, which far outstrips spending on other federal programs, Azar said.
"We believe we could spend less money on healthcare—and, most important, help Americans live healthier lives—if we did a better job of aligning federal health investments with our investments in non-healthcare needs," he said.Azar didn't elaborate on when the model would be launched, but the program could help Medicaid enrollees who need housing.
Kaiser Permanente CEO Bernard Tyson said Azar's comments were an example of how the conversation was going in the right direction in terms of how healthcare providers should think about social determinants as part of the whole healthcare ecosystem. But without knowing more of the plan's details, Tyson said the move will likely come through a public-private partnership.
"There's a balancing act that we all have to think about because somebody has to pay for it," Tyson said. "But the fact that you're starting to hear that this should be in our discussion inside of the healthcare arena I think is healthy."
Federal funding for housing would be a critical step as healthcare costs continue to soar, according to Anita Cattrell, chief innovation officer at Evolent Health, a managed services company that helps systems transition to value-based care
Medicaid spending hit $592.2 billion in 2017, with federal expenditures accounting for $370.6 billion, or 63%, of that sum, according to federal data. That's up from $580.9 billion in 2016 when federal Medicaid spending was $368.2 billion.
"We've all come to understanding that we've got to solve social issues in parallel with health ones," Cattrell said. "Without doing that, you're not going to achieve long-term outcomes."
The CMS has approved experiments for housing relating services through Medicaid in California, Illinois, Minnesota and New York. However, none of these efforts outright pays for people's rent because federal law prohibits that, according to Peggy Bailey, director of Health Integration Project at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The CMS determined that 1115 waivers could not be used to pay for housing. Instead, these state programs can pay for assistance in finding housing, home modifications and educating beneficiaries about tenant rights.
The CMS has paid rent for Medicaid beneficiaries through the Money Follows the Person Demonstration that was launched in 2008. The program transitioned Medicaid enrollees from an institutional setting back into the community.
However, that program was funded by grants rather than Medicaid funds, Bailey said. It was also a relatively small program. At the end of 2016, there were 9,995 participants. In 2008, 289 people participated in the demonstration, according to federal data.
But CMMI will be able to target many more enrollees, Bailey said.
"Paying for these services on a wider scale would be breaking new ground for sure," Bailey said.
He needs to be fired right now out of hand before he goes any deeper in the ditch.
Stupidest set of ideas I ever heard. What is this idiot?
My suggestion is to get rid of this Azar guy and find someone with a genuine gold plated BRAIN.
And these are Republicans coming up with this giveaway BS
Buying smack for the junkies is next.
Oh good. Medicare can go broke faster now.
This must be a joke. It sounds exactly like something Hillary wishes she had come up with when Bill was in the WH.
“But if we can only take control of ONE more aspect of your life, that’s the missing link to decreasing healthcare costs, I promise!”
There are no words... except maybe go Galt
Unreal stupidity .
I cannot even comment on this. Speechless...
The third term of Obama seems to be a part of the current administration.
>Oh good. Medicare can go broke faster now.
$21+T debt & $140+T in ‘unfunded liabilities’. Sorry to tell ya FRiend, LONG past B-R-O-K-E.
Fire these far lefty basturds like yesterday!
This must be a joke. It sounds exactly like something Hillary wishes she had come up with when Bill was in the WH.
“But if we can only take control of ONE more aspect of your life, that’s the missing link to decreasing healthcare costs, I promise!”
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You’re right & hildabeast coulda used it to pick up the bern’s supporter’s in 16?
smells like just a more formal structure to pay for housing foir illegal immigrants.
The next “health care” benefit she proposes for Medicaid will prolly be guaranteed minimum income
President Trump followed some bad advice picking a George Bush Republican for anything.
How is this not socialsm, and who is paying for it? (I know, I know).
Another disaster like Sessions.
Not even the Rats have suggested such idiocy!
“”What if we gave organizations more flexibility so they could pay a beneficiary’s rent if they were in unstable housing, or make sure that a diabetic had access to, and could afford, nutritious food?” Azar said in his prepared remarks. “If that sounds like an exciting idea ... I want you to stay tuned to what CMMI is up to.””
I’m staying tuned so I can hear the sound of your a$$ hitting the ground just outside the Oval Office when The President drop-kicks you! Where does Trump dig up these turds?
Just about everything HHS does is socialism, welcome to the real world.
As an old, retired conservative, I can tell you I hate the idea of both Social Security and Medicare. BUT, having had my money taken from me all my life for SS and Medicare, I expect the government to keep up its end of the deal it forced on me and pay for my medicare and SS now that I am retired. Especially since my ability to save up and pay for my own retirement and medical care was sapped by the taxes I paid that were spent on other people.
Having caught this particular bear by the tail, is is very difficult to let go and end these programs without seriously harming those who have paid in all their lives.
I know for sure, rental assistance is much cheaper than hospital says, nursing homes or assisted living.
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