States are increasingly looking to incorporate consideration of the social determinants of health into coverage, payment, and delivery models intended to reduce costs and improve health outcomes in Medicaid. Social determinants, including a person’s economic stability, education, housing, transportation, and local supports, are among the most influential factors affecting the health of individuals. Research has found that strategies to address the social determinants of health, combined with timely access to appropriate primary, specialty, and long-term services and supports, can reduce unnecessary use of the most expensive medical care.
This slide set contains the presentations of a panel of experts—Jocelyn Guyer, managing director at Manatt Health Solutions; Arlene Ash, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School; and Kevin Moore, vice president of policy, health, and human services at UnitedHealthcare Community & State—who briefed the Commission on approaches states are using to leverage Medicaid funds within the current bounds of federal policy.