A Case Study Synthesis and Analysis: Navigating the Journey Upstream

The move from fee-for-service to value-based payment models has led to greater accountability for health outcomes among healthcare organizations serving vulnerable populations, including Medicaid beneficiaries. Because of the strong links between social determinants of health (SDH) and health outcomes, Medicaid health plans, hospitals, philanthropies, and others are developing and refining strategies to address "upstream" social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, domestic violence, and unstable housing. This report synthesizes four healthcare organizations’ experiences using strategic frameworks to improve population health.