The American Medical Association and UnitedHealthcare revealed they are supporting the creation of 20 new billing codes related to social determinants of health.
The collaboration aims to capture nonmedical needs as food, housing and access to transportation, and incorporate them into care plans for patients, executives of both organizations said in a news release.
"By combining traditional medical data with self-reported [social determinants of health] data, the codes trigger referrals to social and government services to address an individual's unique needs, connecting them directly to local and national resources in their communities," UnitedHealthcare and the AMA said.
According to the AMA, the codes, if approved by CMS, would apply to the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2020.
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