Social Services

The social service market is defined as supports and services related to the social determinants of health such as poverty, food insecurity, lack of education, racism, discrimination, environment, and community conditions. Addressing social determinants of health has become a common strategic conversation in a market focused on whole person care and the value equation. Payers and health plans are taking a more structured approach to addressing social support needs and this opens new possibilities for managers of organizations that provide social support programs that have typically been excluded from health care financing arrangements.

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Social Determinants: Whose Job Is It Anyway?

There is much talk—and many pilot programs—about bridging the gap between health care and social services. The data is clear—80% of health outcomes are due to social, behavioral, and environmental factors and only 20% due to clinical care (for more check out the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program, County Health Rankings Model). The solutions, however, are… Read