Indy Standard

U.S. Senators Todd Young and Debbie Stabenow have reintroduced a bipartisan bill aimed at improving the health of American communities through public-private partnerships. The legislation, known as the Social Determinants Accelerator Act, seeks to address adverse economic and social conditions affecting individual health and well-being.

The act is designed to enable states and localities to collaborate with nonprofits and private companies in developing innovative strategies for tackling negative social determinants within their communities. According to Senator Young, "Public-private partnerships are effective at addressing the challenges facing our communities, like affordable housing or a lack of transportation options. Our bill would empower local and state governments to improve social and economic conditions by leveraging existing or building new public-private partnerships."

The proposed legislation would offer grants to state, local, and Tribal governments for investing in partnerships targeting underserved populations affected by adverse social determinants. Additionally, it aims to establish a federal interagency council to assist grantees in identifying federal resources and strategies for overcoming these challenges.

Originally introduced in 2019, the Social Determinants Accelerator Act was reintroduced in 2021 before this latest effort by Senators Young and Stabenow.