For those of us, including me, who are not familiar with the nuances and structure underlying the processes and outcomes from Congress, below is the bipartisan caucus’s “mission statement.”
The goal of this Caucus is to bring together members of Congress from disparate jurisdictions to highlight the opportunities for coordination to improve health outcomes and maximize existing and future federal investments in health, food, housing, transportation, and other important drivers of health. Leadership is needed to break down the barriers that impede better coordination between health and social services programs.
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our nation, particularly for already resource-challenged communities and minorities of all types. Many well-meaning and supportive non-governmental agencies, philanthropic foundations, not-for-profit healthcare systems, and individuals, as well as local, state, and federal government entities have tried to help. Nonetheless, the outcomes have been suboptimal, not for lack of spending significant fortunes or consuming huge resources. Public information abounds, and yet the morbidity and mortality from the virus persists.
Coordinating care with the goal of creating shared value can optimize the use of limited resources. The federal government is a competent organizer as evidenced by effective responses to emergencies such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, or other acute threats. However, slowly evolving changes—such as SDoH—are harder to recognize at first, thus usually resulting in a delayed and outdated response.
The country’s history of not addressing the SDoH is a perfect example of an insidious onset, slowly moving, and under recognized threat to the health and well-being of the United States. Now by coordinating efforts, highlighting successful solutions, or at least creating a catalog of resources, change could be organized at the federal level. Health, well-being, and the cost of care are top concerns for everyone within our nation and every nation. In our globally competitive world, having a healthy population is an enormous and obvious advantage.
The new
caucus is seeking feedback on challenges and opportunities related to SDoH. Sharing current, proven, effective solutions helping over four million folks in sixty plus communities is knowledge that will be shared with this altruistic, politically sophisticated bipartisan team. Hopefully, the caucus can move health and well-being forward to everyone across the socio-economic spectrum.