Provider Blog / Social History vs. SDOH
April 14, 2025
Social History vs. SDOH
Just a friendly reminder that CMS began requiring healthcare organizations to screen for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) on January 1, 2024.
During record reviews, we have noticed that provider offices are capturing varying degrees of social information. There are providers capturing actual SDOH queries, while some are capturing a “social history,” and some have not adopted either method.
It’s important to know the difference between SDOH and Social History. This chart shows examples of each:
This month serves as a reminder for providers to prioritize self-care and model healthy habits while guiding patients in their efforts to reduce stress and enhance well-being.
| Social Determinant of Health | Social History |
|---|---|
| Food Insecurity Interpersonal Safety Housing Insecurity Transportation Insecurity Utilities Financial Stress | Tobacco Use Alcohol Use Illicit Drugs Diet/Exercise Seatbelt Use Marital Status, Pets, Lives with, # Children |
Codes Z55-Z65 were created by the World Health Organization (WHO) specifically to track SDOH, including housing insecurity, food insecurity, transportation instability, and interpersonal safety.
Here are five steps on how and why to capture SDOH:
- Any member of a patient’s care team can collect SDOH data during any encounter.
- Data are recorded in a patient’s paper or electronic health record (EHR).
- Help is available from the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting.
- Data analysis can help improve quality, care coordination, and experience of care.
- SDOH data can be added to key reports (a Disparities Impact Statement can be used to show opportunities for advancing health equity).
Appropriate use of HCPCS code G0136 allows clinicians to bill Medicare for performing a validated assessment of social needs that may interfere with the clinician’s diagnosis or treatment of the patient, which the care team can then address either directly or through a referral.
