Understanding and addressing social determinants of health (SDoH) and health-related social needs at the individual level is the critical first step in improving outcomes, reducing disparities, and reducing healthcare costs. The social determinants of health are conditions in the environment in which the people are born and live. The health-related social needs include food security,…
Category: Supplemental Benefits Platform
How to maximize the impact of supplemental benefits
In the last couple of years, CMS and congress have granted Medicare Advantage (MA) plans additional flexibility to address enrollees’ unmet needs. Plans can now target specific medical and non-medical benefits to beneficiaries with chronic conditions and unmet needs. These 'supplemental benefits' include services like enhanced dental and vision services, hearing, OTC medications and supplies,…
5 steps to promote health equity with health benefit designs
US life expectancy has seen the sharpest decline in over 100 years. While we are unfortunately seeing a cumulative decline, the fall is much more pronounced in some populations than others. The reasons for this decline go beyond the Covid-19 pandemic. We have longstanding health problems related to health disparities - poor access to health…