Addressing Social Barriers to Health May Lower Total Cost of Care

AbsoluteCare Findings Reveal that Investing in SDoH Saves $13 for Every $1 Spent

COLUMBIA, Md., Aug. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AbsoluteCare, a leader in value-based integrated health care, shares insights from their latest white paper, "Beyond Medicine.™ The Cost-saving Power of Addressing Social Drivers of Health." An analysis of the data revealed that for every dollar invested in addressing a member's social determinants of health (SDoH) needs, $13 were saved¹ – primarily through decreased hospital admissions and emergency department visits.

Faith Tarver, Vice President of Behavioral Health at AbsoluteCare and author of the paper, emphasizes the importance of their four-step pathway to whole-person care: "In additional to traditional medical care, we look beyond medicine by screening for social drivers of health, identifying necessary resources using a strength-based approach, ensuring members access the resources, and empowering the member to establish their path to sustainability. This approach allows us to co-create care plans that honor each member's unique journey and empower them to achieve long-term health and independence."

Through targeted interventions, community and not-for-profit partnerships, and wraparound support, AbsoluteCare tackles critical challenges like food insecurity, unstable housing, and limited access to transportation – factors that often stand between vulnerable populations and lasting health outcomes. One of their most impactful strategies for addressing immediate social needs is AbsoluteCare's Member Fund – a self-funded account established in each AbsoluteCare market to support members when community-based resources aren't directly or readily available.

Through the Member Fund, AbsoluteCare provided 2,753 instances of direct assistance to 762 members from 2022 to 2024, supporting urgent needs like durable medical equipment, housing, transportation, and more. Sometimes, the simplest things – cell phone minutes to reconnect with care teams, a government ID to unlock services, or an Uber ride to make a critical appointment – made a big difference. Every $1 invested delivered a $13 cost savings, driven by reduced avoidable utilization. This was a 16% reduction in monthly total cost of care. 

"At AbsoluteCare, we believe in going Beyond Medicine – that addressing social determinants of health is not just a moral imperative but also a smart investment," states Mike Radu, CEO of AbsoluteCare. "The cost savings underscores the importance of our holistic approach to health care, which prioritizes the whole person and their unique circumstances. By helping our members with their most pressing needs, we're reducing their reliance on the emergency department and hospital use for support that can come proactively from elsewhere."

AbsoluteCare passionately champions health equity, ensuring every person has the opportunity to live their healthiest life, regardless of their zip code or background. Access their full white paper, including more details of their 4-Step Program for Whole-person Care at https://www.absolutecare.com/beyond-medicine/.

¹ Data Source: AbsoluteCare internal Member Fund investment data is from 2022 – 2024, Analysis performed in 2025.

About AbsoluteCare

Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, AbsoluteCare is a leading value-based integrated health care provider. AbsoluteCare tends exclusively to the needs of the high-risk population who persistently represent a disproportionate amount of unnecessary utilization and cost. AbsoluteCare operates in 11 markets: Baltimore and Prince George's County, MD; Chicago, IL; Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton OH; New Orleans, LA; and Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, visit absolutecare.com.

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SOURCE AbsoluteCare Manager, LLC.