Sage Growth Partners’ survey of 50 health plan leaders and 300 recently pregnant women as well as their caregivers exposes the fragile foundation that sits beneath maternal and infant care: the Social Drivers of Health (SDoH). It’s well-established that these drivers have a greater impact on outcomes than clinical factors. While 60% of health plans now integrate SDoH screening data into their programs, only 7% consider themselves very effective at turning this data into action.
Health plan leaders must pivot. Read the new report to learn how an SDoH Maturity Path can help define the right data, the right care management targets — including their tracking and resolution — and the right digital and strategic partners.
Read the report to learn:
- The gaps between data collection versus confident action, mothers’ health-related social needs versus health plan supports, and payer intention versus resource allocation
- A five-step Maturity Path to help payer leaders move from data to operational wins and better outcomes for mothers and babies
- The role that national health equity frameworks, non-clinical needs tracking and resolution, and case management with embedded SDoH intelligence can play
- And more
Key Findings
60%
of health plans integrate SDoH screening data into their maternal/NICU programs
7%
of health plan leaders consider themselves very effective at turning this data into action
40%
of mothers and caregivers cite mental health and stress as their top pregnancy, postpartum, or NICU-related challenge — yet only 32% received related counseling or screening
12%
of health plans rank health equity with dedicated resources as a top strategic priority overall, even as 42% name disparities a leading maternal/NICU strategy
64%
of health plan leaders are comfortable with an up-to-three-year ROI time horizon, which could support more SDoH investment
A Note About This Sage Growth Partners Maternal Health Report Series
This is the third and final report in a three-part series based on our comprehensive survey findings, The State of Maternal & NICU Care 2026: Insights from Plans and Patients. Read or revisit our earlier findings on the Medicaid Maternity Cliff and the Member-Health Plan Communication Chasm.
