The specific value of additional SDOH interventions and practical examples for local coalitions are provided in appendices.

The paper advocates for greater recognition and estimation of the multiple sources of value from SDOH interventions to be reflected in payment policies and investment decisions of public and private stakeholders alike.

We also calculate the value we sacrifice each year by tolerating so much excess death among the homeless and the food insecure in our country. It Is far greater than it would likely cost to house and feed people.

We illustrate, using published literature, that many SDOH interventions are public goods i.e., they benefit multiple stakeholders simultaneously.
When you add up the total value generated, things like permanent supportive housing and medically tailored meals more than pay for themselves in total.

Whether health care organizations can save money from one-off SDOH interventions is the wrong question.
The right questions are, what would it be worth to END homelessness? END hunger? ELIMINATE barriers to affordable and equitable care, etc.

We sincerely hope you find the paper interesting. We applaud the many recent efforts upstream of the health care system, but we note that still unmet human needs far exceed what a narrow focus on “health related social needs” can accomplish.

Please add me to health policy group. Thanks.