Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Integrated Care

To successfully deliver whole-person care, providers and healthcare teams need resources to address a patient’s mental health and health-related social needs. The social determinants of health, including factors such as socioeconomic status, education, employment, and social network, can have a significant impact on an individual’s physical and mental health. The Commonwealth Fund released a report Enabling Sustainable Investment in Social Interventions: A Review of Medicaid Managed Care Rate-Setting Tools. This report explores how States can implement strategies to address social issues through Medicaid managed care plans. A related issue brief was published in November 2017.

The American Academy of Family Physicians has started the EveryONE Project to address health disparities. This initiative has recently developed a screening toolkit providers can use to identify their patients’ social needs and to connect them with resources and tools to address these issues.

Also, the NEJM Catalyst and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center held an event on these issues in January 2018, Expanding the Bounds of Care Delivery: Integrating Mental, Social, and Physical Health. The panelists explored the need to redefine health, develop strategies for whole-person care, and build ecosystems of integrated care. Access the recording.