From Barriers to Better Health: Addressing Social Determinants

More than 70% of health outcomes are shaped by social determinants of health (SDoH)—non-medical factors like housing, transportation, food access, and personal safety.¹ These challenges profoundly impact women’s health, contributing to increased rates of maternal morbidity and chronic disease.

Women facing SDoH-related barriers are:

  • 2x more likely to miss prenatal and postpartum care³
  • 3x more likely to experience maternal mental health conditions⁴
  • At higher risk of complications like preeclampsia and preterm birth—which can cost health plans up to $1.4 million per case in extreme instances⁵

Although these statistics are compelling, many care models don’t screen for or address social needs—especially in underserved communities. The result: missed care, preventable complications, higher costs, and growing disparities. For health plans focused on prevention and value-based care, addressing SDoH is essential.

Ovia Health: Turning Risk Into Action

Ovia Health partners with health plans to uncover—and remove—the social barriers that derail care. Serving both commercial and Medicaid populations, our solution delivers tailored interventions that meet members where they are. That could mean arranging a ride for a rural Medicaid member to attend a well-woman visit or helping a commercial member access timely mental health support.

When members join Ovia, they complete a comprehensive health assessment that screens for key SDoH risk factors—like child care access, intimate partner violence, and transportation challenges. If a risk factor is flagged, the Ovia Care Team is immediately alerted.

They provide one-on-one support and connect members to CareFinder, Ovia’s personalized resource navigation service. Based on each member’s location and needs, the team delivers a curated list of local, state, and federal resources—helping to eliminate barriers, close gaps, and keep care on track.

Results That Matter

To date, Ovia has delivered more than 400 targeted interventions—and members are taking notice. In post-support surveys, 100%* of respondents said they were extremely likely to engage with the Ovia Care Team again, and 32%* discovered a benefit or resource they didn’t know they had access to.

As one Ovia+ member shared, “The resources and information are from credible sources and extremely helpful.”

With the ability to capture thousands of data points per member—spanning physical health, mental well-being, and social needs—Ovia provides a real-time view of emerging risks. These insights enable earlier, personalized support that strengthens care continuity, improves outcomes, and helps prevent high-cost events before they happen.

A Scalable, Integrated Solution

Additionally, Ovia complements and enhances existing care management ecosystems. 

We help health plans:

  • Detect risks sooner and resolve them faster
  • Coordinate support across both clinical and non-clinical needs
  • Advance health equity with personalized, high-touch support

Whether you’re focused on maternal health, mental health, or rising-risk populations, we deliver clear, scalable results. Let’s tackle the barriers behind the data—together. Contact us to learn more about partnering with Ovia Health.

*Results are based on a small subset of Ovia app users and may not be representative of user experiences generally.

References:

  1. National Academy of Medicine. Social Determinants of Health 101 for Health Care.
  2. CDC. Health Equity and Women’s Health Overview, 2023.
  3. Urban Institute. Access to Maternal and Infant Health Services and Social Needs, 2021.
  4. Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, 2022.
  5. March of Dimes. The Cost of Prematurity to Health Systems, 2023.