WellCare study tracks social determinants of health
September 23, 2019 - One in five people who called a free public phone line established by WellCare Health Plans Inc. to provide social service referrals asked for help with family support services, including prenatal and parenting education, child care, and child welfare-related service. The next most common requests were for help with food access and transportation (16 percent each), utilities assistance (11 percent), medication assistance (7 percent) and housing (6 percent), a news release from WellCare (NYSE: WCG) said. WellCare, a Tampa managed health care provider, reviewed more than 106,000 social service referrals made through the company's Community Connections program in the first half of 2019. The data adds to a growing body of research around how social factors impact health risks and outcomes, WellCare said.