Organizations and researchers have recognized the impact of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). Research and programs that evaluate and address the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health are increasingly important and their relevance is demonstrable.

Examples of Payers Leveraging SDOH

• Gateway Health reported an average reduction of $2443 in second year medical expenditures for individuals who received coordinated referral services to address social needs. https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/finance/health-plan-addresses-social-issues-data
   
• Vermont Blueprint for Health demonstrated 21% reduction of inpatient use of services year over year, resulting in a 22% reduction in PMPM cost. ED use declined by 31%, reducing costs by 36%. Overall costs dropped by 11.6%.
   
• United Healthcare is investing $400mm in affordable housing. one state saw emergency room admissions drop 60 percent. Total cost of care was also 50 percent lower for individuals enrolled in a housing program. https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/newsroom/2019/2019-03-26-uhc-affordable-housing-path-metro-villas.html
   
• Molina Healthcare opened a homeless members’ resource center to avoid emergency department use for nonmedical needs and launched a clinical setting — WellRx pilot in New Mexico — to screen patients for nonmedical social needs. https://www.healthedge.com/blog-social-determinants-health-what-are-payers-doing

Examples of Providers Leveraging SDOH

• Intermountain is investing $12 million to address issues like housing instability, utility needs and food insecurity
   
• Senior Care Options (Massachusetts) coordinates direct delivery of social support services for patients with chronic conditions and adults with disabilities reported hospital days per thousand were 45% less. 30% reduction in nursing home placements for eligible Medicaid beneficiaries.  https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0113
   
• The Comprehensive Care Program high risk patient’s hospital use declined by 20% in 2 years. $2mm in cost savings for every 1000 members. https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0080
   
• High risk patients receiving care coordination at Mercy experience a 17% reduction in annual hospital readmission rates. Overall cost savings of $37.70 PMPM. https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2010.1298
   
• Care Management Plus patients with diabetes saw 21% lower hospitalization from designated intervention and control clinics within Intermountain Health Care system. Use reductions with diabetes patients save $70,000 per clinic
   
• Sharp HealthCare Care Transitions Intervention Program empowers chronically ill adults discharged from the hospital to take an active role in their healthcare, reducing 30 day readmits from 12.6% to 2.3% in one year https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/CCTP/Round-4.html
   
• Kaiser Permanente’s “Total Health” framework addresses social determinants in neighborhoods and schools for health-promoting policy, system, and environmental changes. Kaiser Permanente is screening patients for unmet social needs to refer them to relevant resources in their communities. Data shows that 78% of those screened have one or more unmet social needs. https://catalyst.nejm.org/health-care-that-targets-unmet-social-needs/
   
• Montefiore Health System investing in housing, reducing emergency room visits and unnecessary hospitalizations for an annual 300% return on investment. https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/what-montefiores-300-roi-social-determinants-investments-means-future-other-hospitals

General SDOH Resources from the eHealth Resource Center

• Roundtable Presentation: Putting Social Determinants of Health Into Action (AHIP)
   
• Roundtable Presentation: Social Determinants of Health- A Kaiser Permanente Perspective
   
• Presentation: States' Capacity for Using Social Determinants of Health Data for Population Health Management
   
• Toward Addressing Social Determinants of Health: A Health Care System Strategy
   
• Considerations for Success in Addressing Social Determinants of Health at the Individual Level
   
• Adoption and Use of Social-Behavioral Determinants of Health
   
• Creating a Conduit for Better Health: Technology Connects Medical and Social Services
   
• Effects of Social Needs Screening and In-Person Service Navigation on Child Health
   
• Webinar: Social Determinants: Alternative Drivers of Healthcare
   
• The top six myths about Social Determinants of Health
   
• America's Health Rankings: Annual Report 2018