Support Basic Needs in Patient Care

Not having food, housing, or transportation makes it hard to stay healthy. Meeting these basic needs, or social determinants of health (SDoH), helps people get better care and stay healthy. Without these things, people’s health gets worse. It’s also harder to manage health problems or see a provider.

Use Easy Screening Tools

Make SDoH screening part of every visit. Use approved tools like:

• The Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Health-Related Social Needs Screening (HRSN) Tool
• Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patients’ Assets, Risks, and Experiences (PRAPARE)
• Health Leads Screening Toolkit

Only screenings with the right Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) count toward the Social Need Screening and Intervention (SNS-E) measure in Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS).

Offer Support

• Screen routinely and use correct codes.
• Follow up or refer quickly when someone needs help.
• Work with care coordinators and social workers.

Making SDoH screening part of regular care helps patients get the support they need to stay healthy.

Explore More

• Quality and Coding Tools | Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska
• Social Determinants of Health | Public Health Gateway | CDC