A New Independent Health Medicaid Managed Care Member Program
Independent Health now has a program called Food First for Medicaid managed care members who are affected by food and nutrition insecurity. With the growing number of people who are unable to access a wide range of supermarket options, the program is needed more than ever. Food First was developed by Independent Health in partnership with Foodsmart, a personalized tele-nutrition and food care leader.
Food and nutrition insecurity disproportionately impact lower income and diverse communities, while poor nutrition remains the leading driver of disability and healthcare costs in the country. Food insecurity can contribute to poor nutrition, which is linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, some types of cancer, and pregnancy and early childhood complications.
Food First will provide long-term food security solutions through free support from registered dietitians, easy online ordering, and food delivery, to bring healthier options within reach. It is available to members of Independent Health’s MediSource and MediSource Connect plans in Erie County. Members who sign up for the program receive free access to Walmart+ or Instacart Express for one year, paid for by Independent Health.
While members pay for their own groceries, the program covers the grocery delivery fees, and provides access to a Registered Dietitian to help members make the right nutritional choices. Additionally, Food First participating members can use their SNAP benefits online through Foodsmart, where accepted. By removing delivery fees for lower income populations and enabling the use of SNAP benefits, Independent Health and Foodsmart are making eating well accessible, affordable, and convenient, while reducing nutrition insecurity in the Buffalo region.
“It is very difficult for a number of individuals and families in our region to get to a grocery store to feed their families, let alone afford their grocery bills,” says Kathy Messer, vice president state products at Independent Health. “The Food First program provides members the opportunity to obtain the support they need to have access to groceries, and it connects them to information and support they may be looking for to make healthier nutritional choices.”
Members are finding the Food First program helpful. “My patient was so happy to be able to have it for those ‘in between times’ when she did not have time to shop herself, but wanted to have fresh groceries available. She also noted that it was hard for her to get out of the house in bad weather, but the fact that she could still have fresh groceries delivered was great,” says Rebecca Guterman, Foodsmart Registered Dietitian.
Independent Health began working with Foodsmart in 2018. Foodsmart offers grocery price comparisons and discounts, while convenient features help make cooking with these foods easier. The user-friendly digital platform is not about counting calories, but making food buying easier, healthier, and more sustainable for the long run. With Foodsmart’s empowering content delivered on a safe and secure platform, Independent Health strives to contribute to the long-term health of its members.
