Tech-enabled solutions as a tool to address health-related social needs in Medicaid: Opportunities and policy considerations

Takeaways: 

• Tech-enabled solutions can help address the health-related social needs (HRSN) of Medicaid enrollees, including, for example, by supporting HRSN data collection and sharing, helping health care and social service organizations coordinate to address enrollee needs, and providing HRSN supports.
• Current policy momentum for addressing HRSN, combined with emerging tech innovations, provides opportunities for states and Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to leverage partnerships with tech companies to address existing gaps in care.
• Medicaid agencies can encourage the use of tech-enabled solutions to support HRSN interventions by: (1) holding MCOs accountable for addressing HRSN; (2) adopting HRSN coverage/reimbursement policies; (3) convening stakeholders to support alignment around HRSN interventions; and (4) supporting infrastructure needed to address HRSN.