Healthier foods, healthier communities

How food-based interventions can help patients, support communities and help create a better system of health

Dolores believes there’s a connection between food and health. “I’m living proof that good food is good medicine,” she says, standing next to a grocery cart full of yogurt, fruits and vegetables. At 73, she keeps close tabs on what she eats, and how it affects her body.

"I know what helps me, especially with my arthritis. It makes a difference."

Dolores is among the growing number of people exploring the health benefits of adding more nutritious food to their diet, thanks in part to innovative programs that help incorporate nutrition as part of a patient's health regimen. Programs focused on improving access to nutritional foods are gaining traction, especially among Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies, providers and policymakers who recognize the long-term value of addressing the root causes of health issues.

The case for fueling healthy communities with healthy foods

Nearly 90% of annual U.S. health care costs are tied to chronic conditions,ⁱ most of which have poor diet as a major risk factor. Every year, more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. are linked to poor nutrition.ⁱⁱ

“Reducing the prevalence of diet-related chronic conditions like diabetes can help reduce health care costs while also improving the health of communities,” says Nebeyou Abebe, Senior Vice President at Highmark Health. Dolores is a part of a program from Highmark BCBS. “If we're serious about controlling health care costs, we need to focus more on the upstream factors that impact downstream outcomes,” Abebe explains.

BCBS companies like Highmark are exploring how the impact of food-focused programs, in concert with other preventive care measures, can help reduce the risk of certain illnesses, support a patient's recovery and help reduce overall health care costs.

Medically tailored meals, for example, could save more than $32 billion in health care costs, according to Health Affairs.ⁱⁱⁱ

Programs that partner with health care can make a difference

In West Virginia, with the help of the local health insurance plan, individuals like Dolores are seeing positive impacts on their health. In fact, 98% of participants in Highmark BCBS's food insecurity program report better access to nutritious food and feeling in better health overall.

But in some areas, access to affordable, healthy foods can be a challenge. "It hurts, especially when you're trying to eat right," says Dolores. Highmark BCBS's program provides a healthy debit card, which may only be used to purchase food that has been designated as "healthy choice" items from select stores. "I want to stay healthy. This really helps."

Programs like the one in West Virginia were designed to be easily replicated with other retailers in other parts of the country. "We were intentional about creating a model that generates impact but can also scale to other communities across the country,"says Abebe. Similar food-based initiatives led by other BCBS companies are getting results:

• New mothers in Texas are benefiting from the Food is the Best Medicine initiative delivering meal kits directly to their homes, courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.
• In Florida, a $1.65 million investment is funding community-led food pantries and neighborhood support, thanks to Florida Blue.
• The Feed Your Health program in North Carolina helps people lower their A1C levels and learn to prepare balanced meals, with the support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.
• In partnership with the National Association of Community Health Centers, Food as Medicine is being integrated into primary care at Community Health Centers (CHCs) in select markets where Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is available. The CHCs initiative aims to reduce nutrition insecurity and diet-related chronic conditions for the nearly 34 million patients who depend on CHCs for care.

What's next

As new evidence supporting the efficacy of "food is medicine" initiatives continues to grow, now is the time to expand on what works. We can support the food is medicine movement by:

• Advocating for giving states Medicaid flexibility, allowing health plans to invest in food-based interventions
• Partnering with community organizations to address the root causes of food insecurity
• Investing in programs that can be scaled and sustained nationally

We will continue working with partners across the public and private sector on ways to build a healthier America. By focusing on prevention—starting with food—we can create a better system of health that's more affordable and impactful.