SDOH: How to generate revenue while assisting patients by coding for social drivers of health

Physicians train for years to develop the medical expertise needed to help patients in the examination room.

What about the conditions affecting patient health outside the exam room?

Social drivers of health, also known as social determinants of health (with both shortened to SDOH), are part of the conversation about patient health and how the U.S. health care system can improve it. The Physicians Foundation, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Osteopathic Association, the American Hospital Association, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other health and medical groups have published numerous resources explaining why SDOH are important.

In the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), the SDOH code is G0136, with additional Z codes identifying specific problems or risk factors. For 2026, CMS proposed deleting it, but ended up keeping it on the books unchanged. Along with good medical care, physicians should know: Doctors can get paid for considering SDOH with patients.

This slideshow presents an introduction to the Z codes used to track patient care around SDOH. For additional ideas about SDOH, The Physicians Foundation launched “Let’s Take 5 to Address Drivers of Health,” an effort to support physicians addressing patient needs around food security, housing stability, transportation access, utilities access and interpersonal safety.