Developing accountability mechanisms, such as screening tools, outcome measures, and cost-benefit analyses, is essential for understanding the impact of health-related social needs initiatives. These mechanisms can help states create more effective and sustainable programs that bridge the gap between health and social care, supporting broader state-level health equity strategies.
New CMS Guidance on Addressing Social Needs Through Medicaid: Implications for States, Managed Care, and Health Systems
Explored CMS’ January 2023 guidance on enhancing and expanding state efforts to address the health-related social needs of Medicaid enrollees, including insights from the chief medical officer at CMS’ Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services.
Financing Approaches to Address Social Determinants of Health via Medicaid Managed Care: A 12-State Review
Explores the varying approaches used by states across the U.S. to financially support managed care organization efforts to identify and address health-related social needs within Medicaid.
Medicaid and Health-Related Social Needs: Four Insights over Four Years
Outlines four lessons on supporting health care stakeholders to meaningfully address unmet social needs, with a focus on state activities related to advanced primary care and Medicaid managed care.
Building a Medicaid Strategy to Address Health-Related Social Needs
Offers guidance to Medicaid agencies on developing a cohesive strategy to address health-related social needs, with a focus on leveraging Medicaid managed care and value-based payment initiatives.
Addressing Social Determinants of Health Through Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans
Assesses gaps in the ability of Medicare Advantage health plans to address members’ social risk factors, and explores policy options that would allow Medicare to provide health plans with the tools to address social needs.
Geographic Data Sources for Assessing Health-Related Social Risk Factors
Summarizes several publicly available surveys, indices, and other geographically based data sources that provide insight into how health-related social needs are affecting communities.
The Importance of Integrated Care Models that Address Medical, Behavioral, and Social Health Needs
Shares the experiences of CHCS’ Karla Silverman as a nurse-midwife and discusses how pilot sites that participated in a CHCS initiative employed creative solutions to better serve people with complex health and social needs.
Screening for Unmet Social Needs: A Conversation with a Community Pharmacist
Features a conversation with an Iowa-based pharmacist about his organization's innovative process for screening patients for medication complexity and unmet social needs.
Hunger Free Colorado: Connecting Vulnerable Patients to Food and Nutrition Resources
Highlights a collaboration involving Hunger Free Colorado, Kaiser Permanente, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and Denver Health that is connecting at-risk patients to needed food and nutrition services.
AccessHealth Spartanburg: Wrap-Around Community Support for South Carolina’s Most Vulnerable Patients
Focuses on AccessHealth’s community case managers, who connect Spartanburg County’s uninsured adult population to primary care providers and community services.
Screening for Social Determinants of Health in Populations with Complex Needs: Implementation Considerations
Shares considerations for health care organizations seeking to address patients' health-related social needs, including by implementing screenings, creating workflows to track patient needs, and identifying community resources.
