Which statement about applying social determinants of health (SDoH) in care management is most accurate?

• A. Screen for SDoH only after a patient experiences difficulty accessing care.
• B. Addressing SDoH requires only clinical care and no external resources.
• C. Screen for SDoH, partner with social services, provide navigation and support for housing, transportation, and food security.
• D. Screen for SDoH, partner with social services, provide navigation and support for housing, transportation, and food security, and track outcomes to measure impact.

Answer: (D)

Addressing social determinants of health in care management means acting proactively to identify and remove barriers that affect health outcomes. Screening for SDoH uncovers issues like housing instability, transportation gaps, and food insecurity that can derail treatment and adherence. Partnering with social services creates a bridge to resources, while providing navigation and support helps patients actually access and use those resources for housing, transportation, and food needs. Tracking outcomes is essential to show whether these efforts improve access, adherence, health status, and utilization, and to guide refinements over time. This approach goes beyond clinical care alone by integrating external supports and measuring real-world impact, which is why it is the most accurate representation of applying SDoH in care management.