UnitedHealthcare and the American Medical Association said Tuesday they want to expand the set of ICD-10 diagnostic codes to include more specific diagnoses related to a person's social determinants of health.
The hope is that these codes would allow clinicians to document patients' social determinants in a standardized way, which would allow them to better tailor care plans or refer patients to community organizations that could meet those social needs.....
Expanding diagnostic codes related to social determinants of health is another step in the healthcare industry's journey to address those factors outside of the doctor's office that often have a greater impact on outcomes than clinical care.
In recent years, social determinants have become a buzzword in the healthcare industry as insurers and providers have looked for new ways to control health spending. Now insurers and health systems are moving beyond initial pilot projects to address those factors in a sustainable, scalable way.
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