Hospitals are required to complete a community health needs assessment (CHNA) every three years to meet the statutory requirements set forth by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and mandated in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While the IRS and ACA both require that hospitals develop implementation plans to address identified needs, there is much discretionary leeway in the types of needs identified and the implementation plans assigned to those needs. To align with national priorities in advancing health equity, hospitals should use CHNAs to identify key social drivers of health (SDOH) that affect their communities and develop tailored solutions to address them.
Key Questions for Boards to Ask about SDOH and Health Equity
- Federal and state agencies are incorporating health equity into their payment models. How prepared is our hospital to address SDOH and comply with new requirements aimed at reducing healthcare disparities?
- Does our community health needs assessment (CHNA) provide a clear picture of SDOH within the communities we serve?
- What actionable steps should the board take to ensure quality programs are aligned and community partnerships are maximized to address SDOH and advance health equity?
- What top two or three SDOH should our organization prioritize for intervention?
This article was originally published by the Governance Institute in April 2023.
Edited by: Matt Maslin
Published August 29, 2023
