States Get New Pathway to Tackle Social Needs in Medicaid (1)

States will be able to introduce initiatives addressing health-related social needs into their Medicaid managed care plans under guidance issued Wednesday by the Biden administration.

They will be able to offer alternative benefits that tackle social needs such as housing and food insecurity in an effort to help Medicaid enrollees maintain their coverage and improve their health outcomes.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it will allow managed care plans to pay for alternative benefits in lieu of more traditional services offered by state plans.

For example, “states may adopt in lieu of services and settings to offer ...