Name: Beyond the Clinic: Policy Pathways for Integrating Non-Medical Drivers of Health
Start: 1764685800
End: 1764705600
Location: James A. Baker III Hall

Rising costs and declining health outcomes are eroding the value of health care investments in the United States. To address these alarming trends, Texas, the federal government, and health care systems are investing in strategies that prioritize quality and outcomes over the volume of services delivered.

A key part of this shift is recognizing that health is shaped by not only clinical care but also by the conditions in which people live, learn, work and play. These non-medical drivers of health (NMDOH) — access to stable housing, reliable transportation, and healthy food — are now being measured and integrated into health care delivery as part of a broader effort to improve outcomes and reduce costs. As health systems expand screening and services for NMDOH, the policy environment is adapting. In 2025, both the Texas Legislature and the federal administration have advanced policies that directly influence how these drivers are identified and addressed in health care delivery.

At this half-day event, experts explored the shifting policy landscape around NMDOH screening and services, highlighting opportunities and challenges in aligning health care practices with the broader factors that shape well-being.

Keynote speaker Dr. Mark McClellan, director of the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy at Duke University, shared insights on the evolving landscape of health policy and value-based care.

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Agenda

8:30 am	Breakfast and Registration
9:00 am	Welcome Introduction Ambassador David M. Satterfield Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy; Former ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey
9:15 am	Keynote Presentation Mark McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. Director of the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy; Former Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
10:15 am	How NMDOH Policy took Shape in the 89th Session: Legislative Staff Insights Alvaro Diaz, M.P.H Legislative Director, Office of Senator Nathan Johnson, Texas Senate District 16
11:00 am	Break
11:15 am	From Legislation to Implementation: How Policy Makers are Approaching Non-Medical Drivers of Health Moderated by: Elena M. Marks, J.D., M.P.H., Senior Fellow in Health Policy, Baker Institute Daniela De Luna Olivares Deputy Director of State Affairs, Texas Association of Community Health Centers Helen Kent Davis Founder and Principal, HKD & Associates; Senior Policy Advisor, Texas Academy of Family Physicians Jamie Olson Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, Feeding Texas Laurie Vanhoose Principal, Treaty Oak Strategies
12:15 pm	Lunch & Networking
12:45 pm	Turning Insight into Action: Small-Group Dialogue on NMDOH Policy This session turns the morning’s insights into action through focused small-group dialogue. Together, participants will reflect on key themes, identify gaps, and generate practical recommendations for next steps in NMDOH policy.
1:45 pm	Closing Remarks Charles Mathias, Ph.D. Director, Texas Consortium for the Non-Medical Drivers of Health; Fellow, Baker Institute