Bill
HB 1906
Requires local social services and health districts to screen clients for unmet social needs and refer them through a state‑procured closed‑loop referral system.
Status: Introduced Jan. 13, 2025; referred to Committee on Health and Human Services. Recorded as left in committee / died at sine die adjournment (May 5, 2025).
Sponsor: Patron — Willett
Purpose
- Require local departments of social services and local health districts to screen clients who seek services for unmet social needs (e.g., food insecurity, housing instability, transportation difficulties) and to make referrals to appropriate services when needs are identified.
Key provisions
- Screening requirement: Local social service agencies and local health districts must screen clients seeking services for unmet social needs using a social needs screening tool approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
- Referral mechanism: Agencies must use existing closed‑loop referral technology procured by the State Department of Health to refer screened clients to service providers and to track referral outcomes (the “closed‑loop” component supports confirmation that referrals were received and services delivered).
- Scope: Applies to clients seeking services from local departments of social services and local health districts; the bill references examples of social needs but is not limited to those listed.
- Agency duties: The Department of Social Services and the Department of Health are directed to require local compliance (i.e., state agencies set the requirement and oversee local implementation).
Who would be affected
- Clients of local departments of social services and local health districts — more consistent screening for social determinants of health and referrals to community resources.
- Local DSS and health district staff — new screening and referral workflow; training and operational adjustments.
- Community-based service providers and referral partners — likely to receive increased, tracked referrals through the state’s closed‑loop system.
- State agencies (DSS and DOH) — administrative oversight of implementation and use of the procured referral technology.
Implementation & timeline
- No explicit effective date specified in the summary text; bill was introduced Jan. 13, 2025. Implementation depends on rulemaking/agency directives once enacted.
- The bill directs use of an already‑procured closed‑loop referral platform, which could reduce the need for new technology procurement.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Potential benefits: More systematic identification of social needs, better connection to community resources, and measurable referral outcomes through closed‑loop tracking.
- Operational considerations: Staff training, workflow integration, data‑sharing agreements, privacy protections, and capacity of community providers to respond to increased referrals.
- Fiscal impact: Not specified in the bill text; using existing state‑procured technology may limit upfront IT costs but agencies may incur staffing or training expenses.
Note
- The materials provided included multiple distinct bills from other jurisdictions sharing the HB 1906 identifier; this summary focuses on the provision directing local DSS and local health districts to screen for unmet social needs and use closed‑loop referral technology.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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