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Oregon leverages Medicaid to address social determinants of health and health equity

By promoting use of health-related services and adding a profit reinvestment mandate, Oregon is using managed care contracting to expand Medicaid spending on social determinants of health and health equity.

Challenges with food insecurity, housing, non-medical transportation and other social needs impact members' health and well-being and may lead to inefficient use of health care services. State Medicaid programs are increasingly seeking ways to address these non-medical social determinants of health, exploring flexibility to fund solutions through state plan amendments and waivers. One lever of change is states' contracting arrangements with Medicaid managed care organizations, which now cover over two-thirds of enrollees.

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Researcher

K. John McConnell, Ph.D.

Director of the Center for Health Systems Effectiveness - Oregon Health & Science University

K. John McConnell, PhD, is Director of the Center for Health Systems Effectiveness (CHSE) at Oregon Health & S... Read Bio