The Root Cause Coalition provides this weekly update to draw attention to our members’ social determinants of health (SDoH) activities, SDoH in the news and the ever-growing challenges faced by our most vulnerable communities. We encourage you to share SDoH-focused research, events and other resources with us so that we can promote it through our TRCC network. Our aim is to foster an exchange of information that is helpful to others so that those most in need - on whose behalf we work each day - can continue to receive information, access and services to improve health and quality of life. If you have information to share, please email us: contact@rootcausecoalition.org.
TRCC News and Upcoming Events
National Summit Early Bird Registration Opening Soon! Take advantage of Early Bird Registration for this year's National Summit. Save 15% by registering between Monday, April 4th-June 6th! Continue to check this space for the registration site link and visit the TRCC website for updates on this year's event.
TRCC Welcomes Sponsors for 2022 National Summit on the Social Determinants of Health We welcome new sponsors in Minneapolis, Minnesota as a Sponsor for the 7th Annual National Summit. This year’s prospectus has been carefully curated to provide sponsors with unique opportunities that enhance professional relationships and can help reinforce sponsors as a leader in the health equity space. Please reach out to Madison Flores at mflores@rootcausecoalition.org for more information.
Social Determinants in the News
NCQA Launches Health Equity Resource Center The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recently launched their Health Equity Resource Center. This Center provides access to research and white papers that offer insight into the implications of health inequities and best practices for overcoming disparities in care. The site also encourages health equity via resources that include engagement and partnerships across the healthcare sector.
Raising the Stakes to Advance Equity in Black Maternal Health This article highlights how Penn Medicine worked to reduce major maternal morbidity and mortality among Black women by tying executive compensation to progress towards achieving health equity goals. The author outlines the steps that Penn Medicine took to address racial disparities in maternal health outcomes, including the adoption of a "maternal safety checklist." They also established a group open to physicians, nurses and other staff members that allows individuals to share relevant thoughts about health inequities in maternal, child and gynecologic health at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In just the first year after implementing these changes, the health system was able to reduce severe pregnancy-related complications among Black women by 29.4 percent.
Promoting Telehealth in Rural America The Federal Communications Commission seeks comment on the revisions to the Rural Health Care Telecommunications (Telecom) Program rules. These rules are designed to ensure that rural healthcare providers receive needed funding to access the broadband and telecommunications services that would provide vital healthcare services. Modifications are related to applicability of the internal funding cap on upfront costs and multi-year commitments in the Rural Health Care Healthcare Connect Fund Program. There is also a proposal to streamline the invoice process in the Telecom Program and to further increase the speed of funding commitments. Comments are due on or before April 14, 2022.
Registration Open for DC-Area Health Policy Conference The Maryland State of Reform Health Policy Conference is taking place May 4, 2022, in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference will convene professionals looking to bridge the gap between political reality and health care policy. Programming will focus on the nexus of healthcare policy and politics, including sessions on the 2022 elections and the impact on health policy, how to move from knowledge to action in health equity work and more. To see the full agenda and register, click here.
SDOH Advocacy Update
FY22 Budget Includes Funding for White House Conference The 2022 federal spending bill, signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 15th, includes $2.5 million in funding directing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to convene a White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger, and Health in 2022. The bill specifies that the conference should be developed using a “whole-of-government” approach that establishes a roadmap to end hunger and improve nutrition by 2030. Earlier in the month, TRCC sent a sign-on letter asking for signatories in support of this Conference. In response to the letter, TRCC staff received an invitation to participate in a meeting with The White House’s Domestic Policy Council staff which took place last week.
H.R.6989 - Housing for All Act of 2022 This bill was introduced by Representative Ted Lieu [D-CA] in response to the homelessness and housing crises in the U.S. The bill would increase the affordable housing supply and reduce homelessness by investing in and expanding a wide range of federal housing assistance programs. It would also establish a Commission on Racial Equity in Housing that would conduct research and gather data on racial equity in housing. The bill would also provide funding for a range of innovative, locally developed approaches to these crises including hotel conversions, mobile crisis intervention teams, library consortium pilot grants and safe parking programs. The bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
S.3688 - Improving Access to Tele-Behavioral Health Services Act This bill, introduced by Senator Raphael Warnock [D-GA], would create a new grant program within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to better provide community-based and peer support services both during and after the pandemic. Grant funding could be used for programs that increase access and coordination of community-based mental health and substance use disorder services for both adults and children. It could also be used to train, recruit and retain mental health professionals; there is also the opportunity to use the grant dollars to obtain the technology required to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment through audio or video telehealth services. The bill was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
H.R.6699 - Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act This bill was introduced by Representative Janice Schakowsky [D-IL] to promote economic security by expanding access to federal family and medical leave to part-time workers. The bill would eliminate the current hours of service requirement in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). It would also guarantee that any employee who works for an employer covered by the FMLA and has been employed for at least 12 months, regardless of the number of hours worked per week, would be eligible for leave. The bill would also improve pension and retirement coverage for part-time workers and would prevent employers from discriminating against part-time employees with respect to compensation, promotions, eligibility to accrue time off, and notice of new work hours. The bill was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Oversight and Reform, and Ways and Means.
The Root Cause Coalition Member Spotlight
Registrations Open for The 2022 Accelerating Health Equity Conference The American Hospital Association Community Health Improvement (ACHI) is hosting their 2022 Accelerating Health Equity Conference May 10-12, in Cleveland, Ohio. The event will include over 40 enlightening sessions covering the most pressing health equity challenges, presented by top health care and community health experts from across the country. Great perspectives on how leaders can take actions to improve equity in their organizations and develop community partnerships. Register here.
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