Baltimore – September 15, 2026 -- Sixty percent of health plans collect social drivers of health (SDoH) screening data, yet just 7% describe their organizations as "very effective" at converting that data into action, according to new research from Sage Growth Partners.
The consultancy surveyed 50 health plan leaders for a report titled "From SDoH Data to Maternal Health Action," the third and final installment in its State of Maternal & NICU Care 2026 series. Eighty percent of respondents said they are only "somewhat confident" in their ability to use the SDoH data they already hold.
Health plan leaders flag rural OB/GYN access as the top maternal care gap
Sixty-six percent of leaders identified access to OB/GYNs in rural areas as a major gap affecting their maternal populations. Sixty-two percent cited access to high-risk OB/Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists, 56% pointed to behavioral health and postpartum depression services, 46% flagged delayed completion of the first prenatal visit within the recommended window, and 38% cited NICU capacity constraints.
Sage Growth Partners CEO calls the shortfall an "action problem," not a data problem
"Health plans don't have a data problem. They have an action problem," said Dan D'Orazio, CEO of Sage Growth Partners. He said plans are collecting valuable information about social barriers affecting mothers and babies but need to convert those insights into decisions on where to intervene, invest and direct member support.
Sage outlines a five-step path from screening to resource allocation
The report recommends health plans progress through five stages: screening members for social needs; mapping those needs to maternal, postpartum and NICU risks; connecting members to case management, benefits and community resources; tracking which needs are resolved versus unaddressed; and using the resulting data to guide investment and partnership decisions.
Sixty-four percent of plans accept a three-year ROI horizon for SDoH investment
Sixty-four percent of surveyed leaders said they are comfortable with an ROI timeline of up to three years when evaluating investments aimed at addressing SDoH challenges. D'Orazio said this extended window gives plans room to make targeted investments now that could improve access and reduce avoidable escalation before returns materialize.
The maternal health report follows two earlier installments in Sage's 2026 series: one examining Medicaid coverage disruptions for pregnant and postpartum members, and another finding that 56% of surveyed mothers did not fully understand their care plans.