Supporting Social Service Delivery through Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations: Early State Efforts

Given the often overwhelming prevalence of social needs facing Medicaid populations, including housing, transportation, and nutrition, aligning social services and supports with health care delivery is critical. Many states recognize the connection between social determinants of health and health care utilization and outcomes, and are building the infrastructure to support social service delivery through accountable care organization (ACO) programs. This brief highlights the initial efforts of seven states — Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington — that participated in CHCS’ Medicaid ACO Learning Collaborative, and outlines key themes and considerations from these early adopters to help additional states support collaboration between ACO and social service providers.