Aligning for Health submitted comments in response to the Request for Information regarding Accelerating the Adoption of Standards Related to Social Risk Factor Data within the recently proposed rule from CMS to advance interoperability and improve prior authorization processes. Through this RFI, CMS sought input on barriers to using industry standards and opportunities to accelerate the adoption of data collection standards related to social risk factor data, including exchange of information with community-based organizations.

Aligning for Health appreciates CMS’ continued efforts and commitment to ensuring providers and payers participating in federal health care programs can better understand and coordinate to address individuals’ health and social needs.

We applaud CMS and other federal partners’ focus on social risk factors and in identifying policies to address systemic drivers of health. We focus our comments on the importance of encouraging greater identification, documentation, and exchange of social risk and social needs data by removing barriers and by providing education and incentives for providers and payers. Beyond this, we encourage CMS to also expand incentives and ensure supports are in place for entities to provide access to and make referrals to available resources and to address identified social needs, as appropriate.

To read our comments, click here or see below:

Aligning for Health - CMS RFI on Social Risk Factors - 3.13.23