AHIP 2018 discussion dominated by social determinants of health

Discussion at the 2018 AHIP Institute and Expo in San Diego this week disregarded the 2019 individual market premium hikes and the most recent red state challenge to the Affordable Care Act. Instead, the conversation was dominated by how insurers can reduce health disparities and address the social determinants of health.

The focus on issues like food insecurity, housing instability and lack of transportation—factors that experts say have a profound impact on a patient’s health—showed insurers are beginning to pay attention to what happens outside of the hospital, even if return-on-investment is still hard to measure.

There’s been a “growing recognition in the past 12 to 18 months around social determinants and its impact on chronic disease,” said...