Accountable care organizations (ACOs) often care for many patients with complex, chronic conditions that can lead to high expenditures and utilization of care. In the United States, 1% of the population accounts for 21% of healthcare expenditures and the costliest 5% account for more than half of all health spending, according to a report published…
Nearly 90% of U.S. physicians say at least some of their patients have a social condition that poses a serious impediment to their health whether it be unemployment, lack of education or drug addiction, a new nationwide survey of doctors shows. The biennial survey from the Physicians Foundation shows 88% of physicians have at least…
The transition to value-based care has expanded the definition of patient wellness to include both physical and social health. As patient care stretches into the community, the healthcare workforce begins to center on the community health worker. Community health workers “are frontline public health workers who have a close understanding of the community they serve,”…
Population health management and value-based reimbursement success hinge on reducing healthcare costs not only when a patient is in the exam room, but also when they are beyond the walls of the practice or hospital. Therefore, understanding where a patient lives, their income, education level, job status, and other social determinants of health (SDOH) is critical…
Few healthcare organizations are investing in social determinants of health technology, and while an uptick is expected, the market will remain relatively weak until providers find the best way to use the data, according to a new analysis from Patchwise Labs. The report found that fewer than 4% of health systems and managed care organizations…
Medicaid accountable care organizations (ACOs) are designed to improve health care quality while delivering more efficient care. But, medical care is only one of several factors affecting health outcomes. Social determinants of health (SDOH), such as living environment and access to healthy food, affect health outcomes and, consequently, an ACO’s bottom line. Because most ACOs…
Social determinants of health are not just about soft skills and the promise of helping patients by better understanding their individual circumstances any more. Rather, there’s a legitimate business case to be made — and it’s a powerful one. Exactly how big is the opportunity when you start to look at overall spending? And what…