Taylor, LaurenTan, Annabel XulinCoyle, Caitlin E.Ndumele, ChimaRogan, ErikaCanavan, MaureenCurry, Leslie A.Bradley, Elizabeth H.2016-10-112016Taylor, Lauren A., Annabel Xulin Tan, Caitlin E. Coyle, Chima Ndumele, Erika Rogan, Maureen Canavan, Leslie A. Curry, and Elizabeth H. Bradley. 2016. “Leveraging the Social Determinants of Health: What Works?” PLoS ONE 11 (8): e0160217. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160217. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160217.1932-6203http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:29002670We summarized the recently published, peer-reviewed literature that examined the impact of investments in social services or investments in integrated models of health care and social services on health outcomes and health care spending. Of 39 articles that met criteria for inclusion in the review, 32 (82%) reported some significant positive effects on either health outcomes (N = 20), health care costs (N = 5), or both (N = 7). Of the remaining 7 (18%) studies, 3 had non-significant results, 2 had mixed results, and 2 had negative results in which the interventions were associated with poorer health outcomes. Our analysis of the literature indicates that several interventions in the areas of housing, income support, nutrition support, and care coordination and community outreach have had positive impact in terms of health improvements or health care spending reductions. These interventions may be of interest to health care policymakers and practitioners seeking to leverage social services to improve health or reduce costs. Further testing of models that achieve better outcomes at less cost is needed.en-USMedicine and Health SciencesHealth CareSocioeconomic Aspects of HealthPublic and Occupational HealthEarth SciencesGeographyHuman GeographyHousingSocial SciencesBehavioral and Social Aspects of HealthPulmonologyAsthmaPeople and PlacesPopulation GroupingsAge GroupsChildrenFamiliesBiology and Life SciencesNutritionClinical MedicineClinical TrialsRandomized Controlled TrialsPharmacologyDrug Research and DevelopmentPhysiologyPhysiological ParametersBody WeightBirth WeightJournal Article2016-10-1110.1371/journal.pone.0160217