WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC), along with Reps. Dan Kildee (MI-05), Jackie Walorski (IN-02), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-At Large), has introduced the Leveraging Integrated Networks in Communities (LINC) to Address Social Needs Act. This bill will help health care and social service organizations better coordinate the care of our most vulnerable people.
"Helping health care providers and social services work together through public-private partnerships can save lives. I’m proud to introduce the LINC to Address Social Needs Act that builds on the success of North Carolina’s NCCARE360 program by connecting providers and patients with much-needed technology and resources. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this critical piece of bipartisan legislation," said Rep. Hudson.
The LINC to Address Social Needs Act would provide $150 million for grants to states to grow partnerships between health care and social service providers to improve people’s overall health care. This initial funding will direct states to enter into public-private partnerships to manage community referral networks, support participating organizations, and help connect patients with much-needed resources such as food, housing, child development, job training, and transportation support and services. The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate the success of the networks, along with recommendations, in a report to Congress.
The legislation follows the success of a similar program in North Carolina, NCCARE360. This one-of-a-kind network is the first in the nation that unites health care and human services organizations with shared technology to enable a coordinated, community-oriented, person-centered approach for delivering care in North Carolina. Started in 2017, the partnership with the NC Department of Health and Human Services serves all 100 counties, partners with over 2,000 organizations, and serves over 40,000 users. "There should be no wrong door to care," said Congressman Kildee. "In Flint, we’ve seen how linking health care providers with social service providers can improve access to care in our community. This legislation will support and grow these kinds of partnerships to improve the health of communities in Michigan and across the country."
"The bipartisan LINC to Address Social Needs Act will help families to navigate social services available in each state. Connecting local social services and health care providers in our community will streamline opportunities to uplift individuals and families while responsibly stewarding resources," said Congresswoman Jackie Walorski. "This public-private partnership approach will spur collaboration, optimize support in our community, and expand Hoosiers’ access to quality care and services close to home."
"Too often, Americans lack access to affordable housing, healthy food, transportation, and other basic services that impact health, but they don’t know where to turn for help. At the same time, health care and social service providers lack the infrastructure to communicate, coordinate, and track outcomes for their patients. I am proud to be working with my colleagues on the LINC to Address Social Needs Act, which will help communities across the country efficiently coordinate service delivery through technology to increase access to critical social services and holistically improve health outcomes," said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester.
Organizations including Duke Health and Aligning for Health have praised the legislation.
"We appreciate Rep. Hudson’s leadership in the House to introduce the Leveraging Integrated Networks in Communities to Address Social Needs Act to support states creating or enhancing public-private partnerships to coordinate health and social services. We are grateful for legislative efforts addressing social drivers of health to help close critical gaps that exist in the nation’s healthcare system," said Duke Health officials.
"As an organization dedicated to catalyzing the change that will break down the barriers between health and social service organizations, we applaud Representatives Kildee, Walorski, Blunt Rochester, and Hudson for their leadership in introducing the LINC to Address Social Needs Act," said Melissa Quick, co-chair of Aligning for Health. "The bill will help to build and expand shared community resource referral networks, helping to improve coordination between the health care and social service sectors. Aligning for Health looks forward to the passage of this exciting legislation."
As part of his leadership on improving health care, last week Rep. Hudson also had two health care-related bills pass the House of Representatives.
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