Legislative Update

October 2021 Policy Update
October 29, 2021
Primary Care Collaborative

 

  • Sens. Todd Young (R-Indiana) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) introduced the bipartisan Social Determinants Accelerator Act, a PCC-supported Senate companion bill to the Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2021 (H.R.2503) initially introduced in the House.
  • On Oct. 8, the American Psychological Association (APA) submitted comments to the bipartisan social determinants of health (SDOH) caucus, highlighting the behavioral health elements faced by children and families, undocumented immigrants, and individuals without broadband access, and expressing the need for more uniform collection of SDOH data. In addition, the APA requests that CMS establish a new “G code” to better capture the utilization of SDOH specific services. The APA also endorses H.R. 2503.
  • The bipartisan Primary and Virtual Care Affordability Act (H.R. 5541) was recently introduced by Reps. Bradley Schneider (D-Illinois) and Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio). It would allow high-deductible health plans with associated Health Savings Accounts to waive the deductible for telehealth and primary care services through the end of 2023.
  • PCC joined the Coalition to Improve Diagnosis, adding its signature to a letter to Senate leadership on the Appropriations Committee requesting increased funding to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for patient safety and diagnostic safety and quality.
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