Title: Health-Related Social Needs as a Rural Health Transformation Strategy
Source: Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy
Authors: Charles W. Mathias, Kathryn Jantz, Elena M. Marks, and Carlos A. Cruz
A Baker Institute Policy Brief examines how states are using the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to strengthen rural healthcare systems. This analysis examined what the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services calls health-related social needs (HRSN), or non-medical drivers of health, as part of rural healthcare reform. We found that 45 of 50 states included HRSN strategies in their applications, even though these services were not required. The most common approaches were transportation support, closed-loop referral systems, and HRSN navigation services that help connect patients with community resources. Other strategies included food is medicine programs, digital literacy initiatives, housing supports, and maternal health services. The findings suggest that states increasingly view social and economic factors as essential to improving health outcomes and managing chronic disease. As implementation begins, the RHTP will provide an important test of whether these strategies can deliver measurable results and become a sustainable part of rural healthcare delivery..
