This fact sheet examines the association between health centers’ investment in enabling services and patient health outcomes. Enabling services are non-clinical services that aim to increase access to health care and improve health outcomes. Examples include transportation, interpretation, case management, eligibility assistance, health education, outreach and more.
Data shows that enabling services staffing and costs are associated with better national quality measures, including higher rate of HbA1c < 8%, higher rate of controlled hypertension, higher cervical cancer screening, and higher child immunization rate. This data shows that investing in enabling services are vital in preventative care. It is critical to recognize enabling services as a unique feature addressing the many social determinants of health, and that resources to support these services are critical to supporting improved health outcomes.