The benefit of social needs programs: Hospital reports of associated population health management outcomes

Despite compelling evidence linking social needs to health outcomes, there is a limited assess- ment of hospital- and health-system-led interventions to address social needs. To address this literature gap, this study examines hospital and health systems' reports of population health outcomes associated with social needs programming. Using data primarily from the 2021 American Hospital Association's Annual Hospital Survey, the study examines whether hospital- and health-system-led efforts to address housing, hunger, utility needs, interpersonal violence, transportation, employment, education, social isolation, and health behaviors are associated with hospital reports of improved health outcomes, reduced health care utilization, lower health care costs, and improved community health status. Four separate multivariable logistic regression models are fitted for each outcome. Education and health behavior programs or strategies were positively associated with 3 of the 4 outcomes examined, while programs or strategies targeting employment and housing were each associated with 1 outcome. Efforts addressing interpersonal violence were linked to reduced health care utilization but were negatively associated with improved health outcomes. Overall, the results demonstrate both the promise and the variability of social needs interventions across health care settings, reinforcing an emerging consensus that these interventions may not be uniformly effective.