CMS releases initial data from model to address health-related social needs

One third of the first 750,000 Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries screened through the Accountable Health Communities Model reported having at least one health-related social need, according to preliminary findings from the model released today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Food insecurity was the most common need (67%), followed by housing (47%), transportation (41%), utilities (28%) and safety (5%).

Launched in 2017, the five-year model aims to test whether systematically identifying and addressing Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries’ health-related social needs through screening, referral and community navigation services impacts health care costs and use.