Social Needs Data in the State Medicaid Enrollment Form: A Content Analysis

Abstract

The Institute for Medicaid Innovation (IMI) conducted a content analysis of the Medicaid enrollment application form for each state to assess the extent to which social needs data were collected. As state Medicaid agencies, health plans, and community-based organizations design and implement interventions related to social determinants of health (SDOH), identifying the specific social needs of individuals at the point of enrollment in Medicaid has the potential to expedite the coordination of needed services and supports that will improve overall health outcomes. However, our analysis found that states varied in the type and number of specific social needs data collected. Furthermore, it is unknown whether these data are being transmitted to Medicaid stakeholders, such as health plans, as part of the EDI 834 file.