Interior Alaska News

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) have introduced the Utilizing National Data, Effectively Reforming Standards and Tools, to Address Negative Determinants of Health (UNDERSTAND Health) Act. This legislation aims to establish a clear definition of social determinants of health and support efforts already underway in Alaska and Nevada to address socioeconomic conditions that impact health.

"Studies have made it increasingly clear that Americans living in areas with limited access to health care, nutritious food, and quality housing can face lasting detrimental consequences for their physical health. Alaska is disproportionately impacted by this challenge, with dozens of communities off the road system that lack these basic amenities of life," said Sen. Sullivan. "The more information we have on how these conditions impact long-term health, the better we can treat and address health conditions before they become serious. The UNDERSTAND Act will make it easier for healthcare providers to collect and utilize this data to ultimately improve the health of Alaskans."

Senator Cortez Masto emphasized the importance of stable access to essential services: "The critical role stable access to food, housing, education, employment, and transportation plays in Americans’ health has been overlooked for too long. This bipartisan bill will help us better understand how these factors impact our physical and mental health so we can address challenges head-on and improve the health of patients and communities across Nevada."

Stakeholders have expressed their support for the UNDERSTAND Act. Carmen Wenger, Acting Executive Director of All Alaska Pediatric Partnership (A2P2), stated: "This requires using data-driven approaches to address the social drivers of health that are foundational to wellbeing. The UNDERSTAND Act provides a standardized way to discern and respond to these needs while also allowing local knowledge to inform practice."

Trevor Storrs, President & CEO of the Alaska Children's Trust, added: "Addressing the root causes of child abuse and neglect means tackling the social determinants of health—factors like housing, food security, and access to transportation—that have a profound impact on the well-being of children and families."

Jared Kosin, President & CEO of the Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association (AHHA), noted: "We know that social drivers of health contribute to overall health. Standardizing and understanding these drivers is vital to effective healthcare delivery."

The bill has received endorsements from various organizations including Aligning for Health, NASDOH, American Art Therapy Association among others.