Health legislation to focus on equity, social determinants of health

Rep. Lauren Underwood (D- Ill.), photo courtesy of WTTW
Error message
In order to filter by the "in queue" property, you need to add the Entityqueue: Queue relationship.-
County NewsMomnibus Act sponsor Rep. Lauren Underwood: “As we enact policies and implement strategies to end this pandemic, we also must take bold action to rebuild our healthcare system and public health infrastructure on a foundation of equity."Health legislation to focus on equity, social determinants of health
-
County News Article
Health legislation to focus on equity, social determinants of health
Members of NACo’s Health Policy Steering Committee March 10 discussed health legislation and social determinants of health in this year’s policy priorities.
One health priority focuses on enhancing counties’ abilities to improve health equity and address social and economic conditions that drive health outcomes.
Committee members heard from Rep. Lauren Underwood (D- Ill.) who championed the Black Maternal Health “Momnibus” Act of 2021, a series of 12 bills, with Sen. Cory Booker (D- N.J.)
The “Momnibus” Act would extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for moms, address environmental risks to maternal and infant health outcomes and provide grants to local public health departments to address social determinants of health in communities.
Underwood told committee members during NACo’s Virtual Legislative Conference that the pandemic has shined a light on these racial and ethnic health disparities.
“As we enact policies and implement strategies to end this pandemic, we also must take bold action to rebuild our healthcare system and public health infrastructure on a foundation of equity,” she said.
Black moms are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related problems, Underwood said, stating the new legislation includes critical investments in funding community-based organizations, growing and diversifying the perinatal workforce and improving data collection.
Underwood said the 12 bills in the Momnibus Act will save lives, end disparities and achieve maternal health equity.
Another NACo health priority focuses on protecting the Federal-State-Local Medicaid partnership. This priority opposes cost shift measures that would reduce federal support that would flow to counties and focuses on protecting flexibilities that allow counties to finance the non-federal share of the program and increase fiscal support during economic downturns.
Sen. Bob Casey (D- Pa.) and Rep. Susie Lee (D- Nev.) recently reintroduced the Coronavirus Medicaid Response Act. The bill would tie federal increases of Medicaid to state economic trends and require increases be sub-allocated to counties that contribute to the non-fiscal share of Medicaid.
In a message to the committee, Casey highlighted how Medicaid supports 70 million Americans with even more people turning to coverage since the pandemic.
“Medicaid isn’t just some program,” he said. “Medicaid tells us who we are and whom we value, whether it’s children or working families or individuals with disabilities or seniors in nursing homes.”
He said this legislation will create a more responsive process for supporting state Medicaid programs and tie federal Medicaid increases to state unemployment rates. When unemployment goes up, the need for Medicaid is more pronounced, he said.
The bill will also help states and counties plan their budgets and keep individuals covered as well as prevent cuts to provider reimbursements during economic downturns.
“We’re Americans,” he said. “We care about one another… and Medicaid helps us care for those who are vulnerable.”
Momnibus Act sponsor Rep. Lauren Underwood: “As we enact policies and implement strategies to end this pandemic, we also must take bold action to rebuild our healthcare system and public health infrastructure on a foundation of equity."2021-03-11County News Article2023-04-11
Members of NACo’s Health Policy Steering Committee March 10 discussed health legislation and social determinants of health in this year’s policy priorities.
One health priority focuses on enhancing counties’ abilities to improve health equity and address social and economic conditions that drive health outcomes.
Committee members heard from Rep. Lauren Underwood (D- Ill.) who championed the Black Maternal Health “Momnibus” Act of 2021, a series of 12 bills, with Sen. Cory Booker (D- N.J.)
The “Momnibus” Act would extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for moms, address environmental risks to maternal and infant health outcomes and provide grants to local public health departments to address social determinants of health in communities.
Underwood told committee members during NACo’s Virtual Legislative Conference that the pandemic has shined a light on these racial and ethnic health disparities.
“As we enact policies and implement strategies to end this pandemic, we also must take bold action to rebuild our healthcare system and public health infrastructure on a foundation of equity,” she said.
Black moms are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related problems, Underwood said, stating the new legislation includes critical investments in funding community-based organizations, growing and diversifying the perinatal workforce and improving data collection.
Underwood said the 12 bills in the Momnibus Act will save lives, end disparities and achieve maternal health equity.
Another NACo health priority focuses on protecting the Federal-State-Local Medicaid partnership. This priority opposes cost shift measures that would reduce federal support that would flow to counties and focuses on protecting flexibilities that allow counties to finance the non-federal share of the program and increase fiscal support during economic downturns.
Sen. Bob Casey (D- Pa.) and Rep. Susie Lee (D- Nev.) recently reintroduced the Coronavirus Medicaid Response Act. The bill would tie federal increases of Medicaid to state economic trends and require increases be sub-allocated to counties that contribute to the non-fiscal share of Medicaid.
In a message to the committee, Casey highlighted how Medicaid supports 70 million Americans with even more people turning to coverage since the pandemic.
“Medicaid isn’t just some program,” he said. “Medicaid tells us who we are and whom we value, whether it’s children or working families or individuals with disabilities or seniors in nursing homes.”
He said this legislation will create a more responsive process for supporting state Medicaid programs and tie federal Medicaid increases to state unemployment rates. When unemployment goes up, the need for Medicaid is more pronounced, he said.
The bill will also help states and counties plan their budgets and keep individuals covered as well as prevent cuts to provider reimbursements during economic downturns.
“We’re Americans,” he said. “We care about one another… and Medicaid helps us care for those who are vulnerable.”

-
Webinar
New Options to Combat Summer Hunger: What Counties Need to Know
Sep. 21, 2023 , 1:00 pmSummer hunger impacts too many children when they lose access to nutritious school meals. -
Webinar
Building and Supporting Comprehensive Behavioral Health Crisis Response Systems
Sep. 14, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmIn response to a growing need for behavioral health care services, counties are working to establish and bolster access to comprehensive continuums of care for their community members. -
Blog
CMS proposes new minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities
On September 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would impose minimum staffing standards for the approximately 758 county-owned or operated long-term care facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid. -
Blog
Senate HELP and House Energy and Commerce pass PAHPA reauthorizations out of committee with amendments
The week of July 17, both the U.S. House Energy and Commerce and U.S. -
Reports & Toolkits
NACo Analysis: Overview of New Treasury Guidance for ARPA Flexibility Legislation
On August 10, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) for the bipartisan State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act -
Reports & Toolkits
The Principles Quick Guide to Creating a Settlement Council
The Principles for the Use of Funds From the Opioid Litigation are nationally recognized guidance for states, counties and cities receiving money from the lawsuits against entities that contributed to the opioid epidemic.
-
Basic page
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid, a skills-based training administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in their peers, friends and colleaguepagepagepage<h3><strong>WHY MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID?</strong></h3>
-
Basic page
Healthy Counties Initiative
Healthy Counties focuses on enhancing: public-private partnerships in local health delivery, access to, and coordination of, care for vulnerable populations in the community and community public health and behavioral health programs.pagepagepage<p>NACo’s Healthy Counties Initiative creates and sustains healthy counties by supporting collaboration and sharing evidence-informed approaches to pressing health issues.
-
Basic page
Live Healthy U.S. Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Live Healthy Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program is a NO-COST program available to all member counties.pagepagepage<h1>With <a id="naco" name="naco">NACo</a>, Saving Feels Better</h1>
-
Reports & Toolkits
Opioid Solutions Center
NACo’s Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.Reports & Toolkitsdocument10123:30 pmReports & Toolkits<p>NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
Contact
Related Resources
-
Blog
CMS proposes new minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities
On September 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would impose minimum staffing standards for the approximately 758 county-owned or operated long-term care facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid. -
Blog
Senate HELP and House Energy and Commerce pass PAHPA reauthorizations out of committee with amendments
The week of July 17, both the U.S. House Energy and Commerce and U.S. -
Blog
Community Mental Health Services May Support Reducing Jail Populations
The Stepping Up Initiative — supported by NACo, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation and the Council of State Governments Justice Center — assists county government efforts to reduce the prevalence of individuals with mental health conditions in the criminal legal system.
-
Reports & Toolkits
NACo Analysis: Overview of New Treasury Guidance for ARPA Flexibility Legislation
On August 10, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) for the bipartisan State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act -
Reports & Toolkits
The Principles Quick Guide to Creating a Settlement Council
The Principles for the Use of Funds From the Opioid Litigation are nationally recognized guidance for states, counties and cities receiving money from the lawsuits against entities that contributed to the opioid epidemic. -
Press Release
Counties Encouraged by White House Action on Mental Health Parity
County leaders invited to White House for announcement of new proposed rule
More From
-
Opioid Solutions Center
NACo’s Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
Learn More