The healthcare trade is gaining a greater understanding that there’s a robust connection between diet and well being. Uber Well being added wholesome grocery supply providers to its platform, the Rockefeller Basis is funding two produce prescription pilot applications for veterans and Kaiser Permanente launched a medically-tailored meal program.
Additionally collaborating within the “meals as drugs” motion is Highmark Well being, which launched a medically-tailored meal pilot program in December, and is forming meals initiatives in 14 completely different communities. Nebeyou Abebe, senior vice chairman of social determinants of well being for Highmark Well being, gave MedCity Information an replace on its meals as drugs efforts final week in the course of the AHIP 2023 convention in Portland.
“Weight-reduction plan-related continual situations are driving a whole lot of our healthcare expenditures, in order that’s why we determined as a company to give attention to meals as drugs,” Abebe stated. “I feel there’s a great alternative to teach each our members, our sufferers, however even our suppliers who I don’t suppose have a powerful background and understanding of the connection between meals and total well being and wellbeing. What we’re making an attempt to do as a company is to develop a strong complete technique round meals as drugs to deal with each acute meals insecurity wants, but additionally take into consideration diet schooling.”
Highmark Well being has recognized 14 “precedence communities” throughout the 4 states the corporate capabilities in: Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and West Virginia. These communities had been recognized primarily based on social vulnerability, continual illness prevalence and Highmark membership density, Abebe stated. The corporate is receiving neighborhood enter from completely different stakeholders about what the distinctive gaps are in every neighborhood, after which launching applications tailor-made to these communities’ wants.
The newest initiative launched in one among these communities is the Wholesome Neighborhood pilot in West Virginia, which was introduced this month. The $1.5 million pilot is in partnership with Vandalia Well being Community, Marshall Well being, Mountain Well being Community, InComm Healthcare and Greenback Basic. It offers eligible West Virginia residents with debit playing cards that they will use completely at Greenback Basic shops to buy nutritious meals.
“Greenback Basic is investing considerably in refrigeration and stocking more healthy meals gadgets as a result of they wish to turn out to be extra of a well being and wellness vacation spot. … In the event you have a look at West Virginia, a full service grocery retailer could also be 20-30 miles away from our members’ houses, however there’s a Greenback Basic proper down the highway,” Abebe said.
It follows one other initiative launched in April in Buffalo, New York. In partnership with meals and diet nonprofit Buffalo Go Inexperienced, Highmark Well being created the Highmark Cell Market, which provides contemporary produce to neighborhood members in want.
Highmark Well being additionally launched a medically-tailored meal program in December, which offers 1,000 eligible Highmark Well being members with two meals a day, together with teaching and social work. It’s a six-month program, with the choice to increase for one more six months if the providers are nonetheless wanted. If this system proves profitable, Abebe stated he thinks it ought to be expanded.
For different payers trying to launch meals as drugs initiatives, Abebe stated they’re greatest performed in partnership with different stakeholders. As well as, it’s good to get “into the weeds” with the applications and have a extra hands-on strategy, slightly than merely offering grants.
“You might want to actually be capable to join it to your small business,” he stated. “What’s your small business transformation technique? … We give attention to meals as drugs, however it’s not disconnected from the healthcare system, it’s really built-in.”
Photograph: vgajic, Getty Photographs
