The way we practice, cultivate, and pay for individual and population health in the United States is rapidly changing. Emerging research and experience point to social and environmental determinants as key influencers of health and well-being, and payment policies that reinforce value over volume are finally providing sufficient leverage for action. In part, given the recognition that local conditions drive social determinants, place-based strategies for improving population health are gaining traction. In parallel, public and private funders have increased investments in efforts to broaden our collective understanding of how to address the root causes of poor health, and to design systems that anticipate and intervene proactively for better outcomes.
This report characterizes ongoing efforts to improve population health as reflected in select national and regional programs.