BOSTON— The Physicians Foundation calls for a need to collectively address drivers of health (DOH) throughout the United States, as research continues to suggest the health of individuals across the country is in crisis. The Physicians Foundation remains steadfast in its dedication to comprehensively address patients’ DOH, such as food security and transportation access, improving patient outcomes and ultimately lowering U.S. health care costs through practical solutions. As part of its commitment to address DOH, The Physicians Foundation announces the following milestones that will advance how we pay for and deliver care to improve health:
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) inclusion of two Foundation-led measures in the Physician Fee Schedule to help physicians address patients’ DOH.
- New grant funding to two medical associations to develop state level capacity, resources and data-collection to support physicians in integrating DOH screenings and resource navigation into medical practices.
- New Physicians Foundation fellow, Deborah Rose, MD, to advance research on DOH screening.
“The current health care environment is not sustainable for physician practice or to improve health outcomes for patients,” said Gary Price, MD, president of The Physicians Foundation. “Not only does physician wellbeing for both current and future physicians remain low, but the health of individuals across the U.S. is in crisis. Despite spending more on health care than other high-income nations, we continue to see a dangerous lack of support for primary care, shortfalls in patient access to care and enduring health disparities, which have a momentous negative impact on health outcomes. Addressing drivers of health is critical to improve the overall health of people across our nation and to achieve greater health equity.”
