Mike Leavitt, former Health and Human Services secretary, along with co-author Karen DeSalvo, MD, a former acting assistant secretary for health at HHS and former head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, have published an editorial on the impact of social determinants on the success of value-based care programs:
“These nonmedical determinants account for a significant proportion of health outcomes and, though the data are still emerging, we know that addressing an individual’s or population’s social determinants can improve health and lower costs.”
The authors call for a “unifying alliance” among “the healthcare sector, the technology community and the business community … and leaders from public health, social services and philanthropy” to address these factors.
The editorial fails to offer specific plans, but more rigorous care coordination, patient engagement programs and holistic treatment plans that address nutrition, fitness, mental health and practical barriers to care, such as access to transportation and financial constraints, would help realize their vision to “improve health and lower costs.”
“The success, scale and sustainability of existing payment and care pilot efforts at the community level will require national, collaborative leadership to guide multisector efforts and develop policy that goes beyond identifying problems and drives action leading to health improvements.”
Previously, Leavitt has warned of the need to heed signals in the market.
Leaders of hospitals and healthcare systems must pay attention to the signals about the accelerated move toward value-based payments.
He has also likened the trend to value-based care in terms of Cinderella.
She knew her coach would turn to a pumpkin when the clock struck midnight but still she didn’t want to leave when it was 11:30. Healthcare leaders know fee-for-service will disappear. But when the clock strikes 12, he said, “We have a new piece of information, Everyone in the room is Cinderella and there is a great collision at the door and not everyone is going to get out of the door safely.”