Here, we propose an alternative value-based arrangement: a “social accountable care organization” (ACO) for Medicaid managed care that addresses social needs by placing primarily non-clinical staff at the center of care to maximize the impact on the well-being and health of beneficiaries.
A social ACO is funded by a value-based arrangement with a Medicaid health plan and works with existing Medicaid providers to facilitate access to care. However, unlike conventional ACOs, a social ACO is guided by a non-clinical resource at the center focused on addressing social needs, as well as better connecting individuals to clinical care when needed. Unlike similar approaches to implementing a social ACO, which rely primarily on clinical staff to screen patients for social needs, we argue that enlisting a provider enablement organization with expertise in coordinating social services is a more effective approach.
