How CareSource Leverages Partnerships to Address Social Determinants of Health

At CareSource, we know that social determinants of health are key drivers of healthcare access, utilization, and outcomes – and that they can’t be treated separately from members’ physical health. What sets us apart from traditional managed care is our track record and results in integrating these non-clinical aspects into every interaction we have with our members.

Navigating the complexity of the social safety net can be just as overwhelming as understanding health insurance. As part of the CareSource Life Services program, JobConnect^TM serves members statewide in Ohio, Georgia and Indiana with one-on-one coaching. Coaches serve as a connection point or hub for linking members with community resources for:

• Professional Development
• Community Support
• Access to Food Care
• Legal Aid
• Budgeting and Personal Finance
• Housing Resources

CareSource prioritizes partnerships with local organizations rather than reinventing existing resources. On average, a member working with a CareSource Life Coach will receive referrals to six community-based organizations. The data-driven culture across all aspects of CareSource improves health outcomes for our members.

CareSource Life Services Member Testimonial - Joe from CareSource on Vimeo.

The partnerships with existing organizations have had a tremendously positive impact on the wellbeing and health of patients across the county.

• Members who engage with our CareSource Life Coaching program use emergency departments 21% less and were hospitalized 17% less.
• Moms who received rental assistance through the CareSource program were 60% less likely to have babies requiring NICU treatment.
• In a 2019 study, CareSource found that the CareSource JobConnect^TM program’s benefit-to-cost ratio for the Georgia economy was $24.60 in savings for every dollar invested.

Karin VanZant, Vice President of Integrated Community Partnerships at CareSource, regularly sees the impact of this initiative, five years after it was first implemented.

“Once pharmacy spending began to increase, we knew something incredible was happening,” she explains. “Our members were beginning to adhere to their medication schedule and routinely pick up their refills. One member in particular shared that he had never before connected how his depression medication could impact his ability to hold a job and stabilize his household. Our Life Coaches are able to help members draw the connection between what the doctor orders and how it can help their daily lives. That’s the beauty of case coordination and the relationship we have with members who choose to participate.”

For more information, visit the Life Services page on our website.