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Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that affect their health and well-being. Addressing social determinants of health in a medical office setting can help improve the quality of care and outcomes for patients, especially those who face health disparities or social barriers.

Health equity is the principle that everyone should have a fair opportunity to attain their full health potential. No one should be disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of their social position or other socially determined circumstances. Health equity is a matter of justice and a strategic priority for improving population health and well-being. Addressing health equity means tackling the root causes of health disparities, such as poverty, discrimination, lack of access to quality health care, education, and environmental factors. By promoting health equity, we can reduce the disease burden, improve quality of life, and enhance social cohesion and economic development.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues their commitment to advancing healthcare equity through various initiatives, policies, and programs to reduce disparities in healthcare access and clinical outcomes. To improve value-based initiatives and to support the agency’s continued commitment to health equity, CMS finalized its 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) to include policies that expand access to care and advance healthcare equity. CMS finalized coding and payment for Social Determinants of Health Assessments, Caregiver Training, Community Health Integration, and Principal Illness Navigation services.

Caregiver training is an essential component of quality care for older adults and people with disabilities. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides guidance and resources for caregiver training programs. These programs aim to improve the skills and competencies of caregivers and reduce caregiver stress and burnout. Caregiver training can also benefit the care recipients, by improving their health outcomes, safety, and quality of life.

Community health integration (CHI) is a new model of healthcare delivery that aims to improve access and quality of care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in rural areas. CHI services are performed by certified or trained auxiliary personnel, such as community health workers, under the general supervision of a billing practitioner.

Principal illness navigation aims to improve the quality of life and well-being of patients and their caregivers, as well as to reduce the burden on the healthcare system.

Join us for an informative webinar where we will explore how to address Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and promote health equity in your practice. You will learn how to use the new services that were introduced in 2024 to improve the health outcomes of your patients. We will also provide you with coding and documentation guidelines for the new services, and answer any questions you may have.

Learning Objectives

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