Exploring Emerging Practices to Improve the Health Status of Medicaid Managed Care Populations Through a Social Determinants of Health Approach

Abstract

This work was undertaken to critically examine whether and how a managed care organization can address the social determinants of health for vulnerable Medicaid populations. Unprecedented changes are taking place in the U.S. health system, and more scrutiny has been devoted to publicly financed healthcare spending and outcomes. Fostering and funding efforts that find innovative ways to meet the distinct needs of Medicaid populations have risen to the top of state and federal policy agendas. Complementary to this shift, the broader social conditions and the social determinants of health (SDoH) that structurally influence the health outcomes of populations are receiving increasing attention.