Background: Recognizing the significant effect that social factors have on health outcomes, national stakeholders have developed policies requiring healthcare organizations to identify and address health-related social needs (HRSN). However, the effectiveness of HRSN screening strategies remains unclear. Notably, policymakers provide minimal guidance on how screening should be conducted and allow hospitals to use self-selected screening [...]

Background: Health-related social needs (HRSN) are social and economic conditions that adversely affect health. Housing instability, food insecurity, and unreliable transportation may influence decisions during hospitalization, including care transitions. Numerous screening tools have been implemented in ambulatory and emergency care settings to capture HRSN and guide coordination of care. However, disability, which has profound implications [...]

Background: The Centers of Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) in 2024 will require hospitals to screen and report two of the following five health-related social needs (HRSN): food insecurity, housing instability, transportation needs, utility difficulties, and interpersonal safety (1). These regulations improve screening, however, institutions are still left with questions on how to address these HRSN, [...]