Why SDOH buzz is becoming a roar among health plans

There was nary a session at the annual conference of America’s Health Insurance Plans that did not include a mention social determinants of health.

Whether it was from the stage or on the show floor, there was widespread acknowledgement that these determinants are crucial factors in achieving the best health of a wide variety of individuals.

It’s not that SDOH is completely new to health plans. Several have been working on projects to address how these factors–whether it is lack of transportation, inability to access high-quality food, socioeconomic factors, or challenges such as social isolation and loneliness–impact health.

And it’s certainly not that there hasn’t been inordinate buzz at a healthcare conference before, and buzz can lead to over-the-top hype, and thence on to hyperbole. But my sense was that this was something different.