How should brokers address social determinants of health in enrollment conversations?

• A. Ignore social determinants and focus on medical treatment.
• B. Discuss barriers but take no action.
• C. Refer clients to social services without documentation.
• D. Recognize barriers; connect clients with support resources; document needs and refer appropriately.

Answer: (D)

Addressing social determinants of health in enrollment conversations means recognizing the non-medical barriers a client faces and taking concrete steps to help them access resources. The best approach is to acknowledge barriers, connect clients with relevant support resources (such as housing or food assistance, transportation, language services, and other social services), document the client’s needs and the referrals made, and ensure appropriate follow-up and referrals to the right programs. This proactive, holistic method helps clients overcome real-life obstacles that can affect their ability to enroll and stay enrolled, and it creates a clear record for coordinating care. Simply ignoring these factors or merely discussing barriers without taking action leaves clients unsupported, while referring without documenting can lead to gaps in follow-up and accountability.