Amid the growing awareness of the impact of social factors on health, policy-makers are increasingly interested in finding ways to address those factors through state Medicaid programs.
In a new blog post, the journal Health Affairs offers six ways for states to address social determinants of health through Medicaid managed care programs.
classify certain social services as covered benefits under the state’s Medicaid plan- explore additional flexibility afforded states through section 1115 waivers
- use value-based payments to support investment in social interventions
- use incentives and withholds to encourage plan investment in social interventions
- integrate efforts to address social issues into quality improvement activities
- reward plans with effective investments in social interventions with higher rates
Learn more about how states can use these approaches to empower Medicaid managed care plans to address social determinants of health in the Health Affairs Blog post “Practical Strategies for Integrating the Cost of Social Interventions Into Medicaid Managed Care Rates,” which can be found here.
