SDoH: Service Gaps Apparent Among ACOs

Industry studies highlight large investments, yet ACOs struggle to integrate SdoH.

Several major research studies have emphasized the large sums being spent by healthcare organizations to better manage the social determinants of health (SDoH), amid ongoing struggles to mitigate service gaps, especially by Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).

A study published in Health Affairs explored the degree to which U.S. health systems have directly invested in community-based efforts. Researchers scoured public announcements of new programs involving direct financial investments associated with the SDoH by U.S. health systems from the time period of Jan. 1, 2017 to Nov. 30, 2019.

Hefty investments were found across health systems and the five main SDoH domains, encompassing:

  • 78 unique programs involving 57 health systems that included 917 hospitals
  • $2.5 billion of health system funds, of which $1.6 billion in 52 programs was dedicated to housing-focused interventions.
    • Other areas of attention were:
      • 28 employment programs, at investments of $1.1 billion
      • 14 education programs, at $476.4 million
      • 25 food security programs, at $294.2 million
      • 13 social and community context programs, at $253.1 million
      • 6 transportation programs at $32 million

Health systems are clearly making sizable investments in these areas.

The three largest investments were by Kaiser Permanente for $760 million, the Johns Hopkins Health System for $162 million, and MetroHealth in Cleveland for $160 million.

The research excluded programs in which health systems used:

  • Only funds granted by other organizations
  • Programs providing direct medical care, subsidized unfunded care, or funded medical education
  • Those focused only on the healthcare domain, except if providing transportation to enhance health care access
  • Those creating or implementing dedicated screening or referral tools
  • Hospital renovation programs
  • Programs that increased the minimum wage
  • Those involving community investments by financing agencies or insurance payors

 

ACOs Behind the Curve

On another note, data from a recent Dartmouth study shows that despite strong efforts, ACOs continue to struggle integrating social services and medical care. The study pulled qualitative data from 22 ACOs, and used phone calls and site visits, the latter lasting anywhere from 3-5 days. The study also reflected diverse payor populations across the country. While there was high awareness of the importance of addressing the SDoH, the ACOs were way behind the curve:

  • Few had formal programs or contracts in place to address social needs. Those with contracts did not adequately specify target populations. 
  • Few had a clear idea of the social needs of their patients.
  • The quality and availability of community-based organizations (CBOs) has been less than optimal.
  • Only 50 percent are doing a standardized screening of social needs.

Considering the strong value-based care emphasis by ACOs, the data has demonstrated surprisingly low awareness of how care and costs connect for the SDoH populations. With such strong industry attention to the development of cross-sector collaboration, partnerships with CBOs can become a solid way to address the social needs of any community.

Programming Note: Listen to Ellen Fink-Samnick’s live reporting on the State of the Social Determinants weekly on Monitor Mondays, 10-10:30 a.m. EST.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Ellen Fink-Samnick, MSW, ACSW, LCSW, CCM, CRP

Ellen Fink-Samnick is an award-winning healthcare industry expert. She is the esteemed author of books, articles, white papers, and knowledge products. A subject matter expert on the Social Determinants of Health, her latest books, The Essential Guide to Interprofessional Ethics for Healthcare Case Management and Social Determinants of Health: Case Management’s Next Frontier (with foreword by Dr. Ronald Hirsch), are published through HCPro. She is a panelist on Monitor Mondays, frequent contributor to Talk Ten Tuesdays, and member of the RACmonitor Editorial Board.

Related Stories

Special Bulletin

The Undoing of SDoH Reporting

In a sweeping policy shift, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed significant rollbacks to Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and equity-related

Read More

Leave a Reply

Please log in to your account to comment on this article.

Featured Webcasts

2026 IPPS Masterclass 3: Master MS-DRG Shifts and NTAPs

2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 3: MS-DRG Shifts and NTAPs

This third session in our 2026 IPPS Masterclass will feature a review of FY26 changes to the MS-DRG methodology and new technology add-on payments (NTAPs), presented by nationally recognized ICD-10 coding expert Christine Geiger, MA, RHIA, CCS, CRC, with bonus insights and analysis from Dr. James Kennedy.

August 14, 2025
2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 2: Master ICD-10-PCS Changes

2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 2: Master ICD-10-PCS Changes

This second session in our 2026 IPPS Masterclass will feature a review the FY26 changes to ICD-10-PCS codes. This information will be presented by nationally recognized ICD-10 coding expert Christine Geiger, MA, RHIA, CCS, CRC, with bonus insights and analysis from Dr. James Kennedy.

August 13, 2025
2026 IPPS Masterclass 1: Master ICD-10-CM Changes

2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 1: Master ICD-10-CM Changes

This first session in our 2026 IPPS Masterclass will feature an in-depth explanation of FY26 changes to ICD-10-CM codes and guidelines, CCs/MCCs, and revisions to the MCE, presented by presented by nationally recognized ICD-10 coding expert Christine Geiger, MA, RHIA, CCS, CRC, with bonus insights and analysis from Dr. James Kennedy.

August 12, 2025

Trending News

Featured Webcasts

The Two-Midnight Rule: New Challenges, Proven Strategies

The Two-Midnight Rule: New Challenges, Proven Strategies

RACmonitor is proud to welcome back Dr. Ronald Hirsch, one of his most requested webcasts. In this highly anticipated session, Dr. Hirsch will break down the complex Two Midnight Rule Medicare regulations, translating them into clear, actionable guidance. He’ll walk you through the basics of the rule, offer expert interpretation, and apply the rule to real-world clinical scenarios—so you leave with greater clarity, confidence, and the tools to ensure compliance.

June 19, 2025
Open Door Forum Webcast Series

Open Door Forum Webcast Series

Bring your questions and join the conversation during this open forum series, live every Wednesday at 10 a.m. EST from June 11–July 30. Hosted by Chuck Buck, these fast-paced 30-minute sessions connect you directly with top healthcare experts tackling today’s most urgent compliance and policy issues.

June 11, 2025
Open Door Forum: The Changing Face of Addiction: Coding, Compliance & Care

Open Door Forum: The Changing Face of Addiction: Coding, Compliance & Care

Substance abuse is everywhere. It’s a complicated diagnosis with wide-ranging implications well beyond acute care. The face of addiction continues to change so it’s important to remember not just the addict but the spectrum of extended victims and the other social determinants and legal ramifications. Join John K. Hall, MD, JD, MBA, FCLM, FRCPC, for a critical Q&A on navigating substance abuse in 2025.  Register today and be a part of the conversation!

July 16, 2025

Trending News

Happy National Doctor’s Day! Learn how to get a complimentary webcast on ‘Decoding Social Admissions’ as a token of our heartfelt appreciation! Click here to learn more →

CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24