In value-based care, health outcomes—not volume—determine success. But to improve outcomes, we must look beyond the clinic walls.
That’s where Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) come in.
Social determinants of health refer to the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. These include:
📊 Studies show that up to 80% of health outcomes are driven by these social and environmental factors—while only 10–20% are linked to medical care.
Value-based care (VBC) shifts the focus from fee-for-service to outcomes-driven reimbursement. Providers are rewarded for:
To succeed in VBC, providers must address the social factors that drive poor health outcomes. Here’s why:
Patients facing social challenges—like food insecurity, housing instability, or unreliable transportation—often struggle with disease management.
✅ Identifying and addressing these root causes leads to better medication adherence, fewer complications, and improved long-term health.
Preventing health crises is far less expensive than treating them. By investing in social interventions:
...systems can reduce costly ER visits and hospital stays.
Disparities in health outcomes persist across income, race, and geography.
🧑🏽🤝🧑🏾 Community health worker programs, social service referrals, and culturally competent care help bridge the gap—bringing VBC closer to its goal of equitable, high-quality care for all.
When providers acknowledge the full context of a patient’s life—including financial hardship, caregiving duties, or trauma—patients feel seen and supported.
📈 That trust leads to:
Federal and state programs increasingly reward SDOH integration:
These programs incentivize providers to collect, report, and act on SDOH data as part of their VBC models.
To embed SDOH into your value-based strategy:
Use EHR-integrated intake tools and questionnaires to capture social risk factors at the point of care.
Collaborate with:
Leverage predictive analytics and risk stratification to:
Educate clinicians and care managers on:
As the U.S. healthcare system accelerates toward value-based care, SDOH will become central to quality, cost, and equity strategies.
Forward-thinking organizations are already embedding SDOH into:
Value-based care is not just about treating illness—it’s about creating systems that support health, dignity, and opportunity.
👉 To thrive in value-based care, providers must go beyond clinical interventions.
Addressing SDOH isn’t optional—it’s foundational to building a healthier, more equitable future.
