Breaking Barriers: Addressing SDOH at MTM Health
Welcome back to our quarterly Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) articles, where we feature MTM Health’s latest initiatives aimed at addressing social determinants for our members and clients nationwide. In this edition, we’re highlighting MTM Health’s latest efforts to tackle social determinants and support our members and clients nationwide. This quarter, our Director of Healthcare Operations Chris Jenkins takes a step back to explore the fundamentals of SDOH—what they are and how MTM Health actively works to remove community barriers every day.
What Are Social Determinants of Health?
Social determinants of health refer to the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. These include economic stability, food quality and stability, education, healthcare access, social and community contact, and neighborhood/physical environment. Addressing these factors is critical because they significantly influence a person’s health beyond direct medical care, reducing health disparities and improving overall wellbeing.
When individuals lack access to essential resources like transportation, managing chronic health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure, or respiratory diseases becomes extremely challenging. Addressing SDOH is not only about health equity—it also enhances value-based care, improving outcomes while reducing costs.
MTM Health’s Approach to SDOH and Identifying Challenges
MTM Health is dedicated to identifying and addressing SDOH challenges through targeted initiatives and strategic partnerships. By analyzing data and working closely with the communities we serve, we develop programs designed to meet the unique needs of individuals facing transportation barriers, food insecurity, housing instability, and more.
MTM Health offers various programs to support members in overcoming these challenges:
- Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT): Working with Medicaid and Medicare health plans, we provide accessible transportation to ensure eligible members can attend medical appointments.
- Wanda: A safe, reliable, and accessible private pay transportation service designed to meet the needs of vulnerable populations.
- Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) Programs: These programs coordinate resources among EMS, healthcare providers, in-home services, virtual care platforms, and health plans to ensure seamless access to care.
Innovative Partnerships
Collaboration is key to effectively addressing SDOH. MTM Health partners with healthcare providers, government agencies, and community organizations to create impactful solutions. By engaging multiple stakeholders, we leverage expertise and share valuable data, allowing for better identification of needs and the creation of targeted solutions. This collaborative approach leads to improved health outcomes and a broader effort to reduce health disparities.
Looking Ahead: The Future of SDOH at MTM Health
MTM Health is committed to expanding our initiatives to better serve communities in need. Our upcoming projects focus on enhancing our service offerings, developing new community partnerships, and increasing accessibility to critical resources.
We encourage organizations and individuals to join us in our mission. By working together, we can continue breaking down barriers to healthcare access and improving health outcomes for all. If we truly want to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities, it is essential to address SDOH. Without a focus on basic needs such as access to transportation, the chances of success in healthcare interventions are limited. MTM Health remains dedicated to innovation and collaboration, ensuring that we develop comprehensive solutions to address SDOH effectively.
