How States Can Help Medicaid Managed Care Plans Invest in Social Supports

In a new Commonwealth Fund report, Medicaid policy expert Deborah Bachrach and colleagues detail six practical strategies for supporting the capacity of Medicaid plans and their network providers to address social issues such as housing or poor nutrition. For example, the report explores how states can classify selected social services as covered Medicaid benefits; use value-based payments to support provider investment in effective interventions; and financially reward Medicaid plans that are responsive to clients’ social needs.