Leveraging Medicaid for the Social Determinants of Health

There is a growing body of evidence that clearly shows that health outcomes are highly impacted by social, environmental, and behavioral factors—the so-called social determinants of health. Some studies have shown that medical care accounts for only 10% of health outcomes, with many other factors driving the remaining 90%. In the face of this evidence regarding the importance of social investment, care coordination, and primary care, how can states leverage new and existing programs to promote public health?

Based on the 2016 RSG report, “Medicaid Coverage for Social Interventions: A Road Map for States,” presentations focused on how Medicaid can be leveraged to address these social factors. Presenters identified the policy levers and potential benefits states can explore, discussed the statutory authority of the states to use Medicaid dollars for social services, and the challenges states face including cost, lack of community capacity, and oversubscribed providers.  To learn more, see the presentation.