Pew Urges Federal Government to Improve Data Collection on Social Risk Factors

Improve Data Collection on Social Risk Factors

Editor’s note: This text was updated on March 21, 2023, to clarify that the comments discussed social risk factors, not social determinants of health.

The Pew Charitable Trusts sent comments on March 10 to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) urging the agency to take steps to improve the collection of data related to social risk factors.­ ­

Specifically, Pew called on CMS to include public health agencies at all levels—including state, local, and Tribal—in discussions about how and when to collect data on inequities that could affect health outcomes, such as food insecurity or lack of access to services.