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ACAP Fact Sheets: How Safety Net Health Plans Address Social Determinants of Health
Social determinants of health (SDOH) like housing, education, employment, and food access significantly affect health outcomes. When these needs are unmet, they can lead to poor health and higher medical costs. In fact, research shows SDOH influences about half of health outcomes. For instance, food insecurity is linked to cardiovascular disease, and homeownership correlates with longer life expectancy.
Addressing the health-related social needs (HRSN) of people is crucial for personal well-being, and the health care system is increasingly addressing these factors. Safety Net Health Plans (SNHP) in particular continue to develop innovative strategies for Medicaid beneficiaries.
To that end, the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) established the ACAP Center for SDOH Innovation to support member plans in addressing the SDOH and HRSN of their members. Benchmark Assessment surveys conducted in 2020 and 2023 by Spring Street Exchange provide insights into these activities and show the evolution of ACAP plans in meeting members’ social needs.
ACAP has created six fact sheets based on the latest survey responses.
Read the reports in full via the links to the right.