Our comprehensive review and meta- analysis of these experiments find suggestive evidence of health benefits associated with investments in early life , income support , and health insurance interventions .
Housing and neighborhood trials had no effect on the outcomes included in the meta-analyses .
A positive effect of the trial on its primary socioeconomic outcome was associated with higher odds of reporting health improvements .
Early life , income , and health insurance interventions have the potential to improve health .
Policy Points Social policies might not only improve economic well-being , but also health .
Health policy experts have therefore advocated for investments in social policies both to improve population health and potentially reduce health system costs .
Since the 1960s , a large number of social policies have been experimentally evaluated in the United States .
Some of these experiments include health outcomes , providing a unique opportunity to inform evidence -based policymaking .
CONTEXT Insurers and health care providers are investing heavily in nonmedical social interventions in an effort to improve health and potentially reduce health care costs .
Assisting Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression in returning to work.
OBJECTIVE People with psychiatric impairments ( primarily schizophrenia or a mood disorder ) are the largest and fastest-growing group of Social Security Disability Insurance ( SSDI ) beneficiaries . The authors investigated whether evidence -based supported employment and mental health treatments can improve vocational and mental health recovery for this population . METHOD Using a r and omized controlled trial design , the authors tested a multifaceted intervention : team-based supported employment , systematic medication management , and other behavioral health services , along with elimination of barriers by providing complete health insurance coverage ( with no out-of-pocket expenses ) and suspending disability review s. The control group received usual services .  Paid employment was the primary outcome measure , and overall mental health and quality of life were secondary outcome measures . RESULTS Overall , 2,059 SSDI beneficiaries with schizophrenia , bipolar disorder , or depression in 23 cities participated in the 2-year intervention . The teams implemented the intervention package with acceptable fidelity . The intervention group experienced more paid employment ( 60.3 % compared with 40.2 % ) and reported better mental health and quality of life than the control group . CONCLUSIONS Implementation of the complex intervention in routine mental health treatment setting s was feasible , and the intervention was effective in assisting individuals disabled by schizophrenia or depression to return to work and improve their mental health and quality of life
Our comprehensive review and meta- analysis of these experiments find suggestive evidence of health benefits associated with investments in early life , income support , and health insurance interventions .
Housing and neighborhood trials had no effect on the outcomes included in the meta-analyses .
A positive effect of the trial on its primary socioeconomic outcome was associated with higher odds of reporting health improvements .
Early life , income , and health insurance interventions have the potential to improve health .
Policy Points Social policies might not only improve economic well-being , but also health .
Health policy experts have therefore advocated for investments in social policies both to improve population health and potentially reduce health system costs .
Since the 1960s , a large number of social policies have been experimentally evaluated in the United States .
Some of these experiments include health outcomes , providing a unique opportunity to inform evidence -based policymaking .
CONTEXT Insurers and health care providers are investing heavily in nonmedical social interventions in an effort to improve health and potentially reduce health care costs .