Analysis of California Assembly Bill 85 social determinants of health: Screening and outreach

This report is a rapid review about the version of California Assembly Bill (AB) 85 analyzed by the California Health Benefits Review Program (CHBRP) would require coverage and reimbursement of social determinants of health (SDOH) screening and would require insurers to provide “primary care providers with adequate access to community health workers...and inform primary care providers of how to access these community health workers.”

Medical Effectiveness: There is limited evidence that SDOH screening in a clinical setting increases referrals to community health workers, or is associated with improved use of social services, improved social outcomes, or changes in health outcomes. There is inconclusive evidence that SDOH screening in a clinical setting is associated with changes in health care utilization. Medical Effectiveness evidence is limited by a lack of studies that examine SDOH screening in a clinical setting with control groups.