Foodsmart’s Post

Food as medicine—the concept is so blatantly obvious. But it's taken until now for our healthcare system to have the structures in place to bring it to fruition and the data to show it actually works. Foodsmart just released a report showing their food as medicine program helped to lower the cost of care for Chorus Community Health Plans members by $33 per member/month. And more importantly, because health plans cover this as a benefit, Foodsmart is able to bring healthy food and telenutrition to members for $0 out-of-pocket, reaching the people who need it most. It's a win-win for health systems and for patients. More on the report from HIT Consultant Media.

Foodsmart just released a report showing their food as medicine program helped to lower the cost of care for Chorus Community Health Plans members by $33 per member/month. More importantly, because health plans cover this as a benefit, Foodsmart is able to bring healthy food and telenutrition to members for $0 out-of-pocket, reaching the people who need it most. It's a win-win for health systems and for patients. More on the report from HIT Consultant Media. CC: Melissa Mowery, Merrita Villa, Taeja Oden, Bobo L., Caleb Hamilton

Thanks to Hayley DeSilva at Modern Healthcare for this nuanced dive into the growing popularity of food-as-medicine (or food-is-medicine) programs — and the challenges embedded in these initiatives. Hayley spoke with Season Health CEO Josh Hix, who emphasized the foundational need for discrete definitions around these programs: “I think food-is-medicine has become a really exciting buzzword, but as it's become a bigger and bigger buzzword, it's become less meaningful… People use food as medicine to apply to everything from preventative wellness care to inpatient [intensive care units], feeding tubes and everything in between.” Season’s definition of food-as-medicine focuses on driving improved health outcomes for patients with chronic conditions using a comprehensive, clinically-driven approach that integrates nutrition care from registered dietitians with access to medically-tailored meals and groceries. Read more about the current state of food-as-medicine in the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gEZasS6b #foodasmedicine #registereddietitian #nutritioncare #foodismedicine

There’s a lot of misinformation circulating about Medically Tailored Meals (MTM), but it’s important to remember that not all food-as-medicine companies are the same. At The Cook’s Nook, we’ve been crafting culturally competent, ready-to-eat meals since 2020 from our East Austin facility. Our mission is rooted in providing nutrition solutions for health equity through innovation and community engagement. By partnering with healthcare providers, benefits platforms, and insurers, we aim to improve outcomes for those most vulnerable — those at the intersection of nutrition insecurity and chronic health conditions. Want to know more? Read my full article to get the real story on how we’re making a difference. https://hubs.la/Q02NfK7v0 #MedicallyTailoredMeals #FoodIsMedicine #HealthEquity #NutritionSolutions #CommunityHealth #CulturallyCompetentCare #TheCooksNook #FoodInsecurity #HealthcareInnovation

Do American's Need Prescription For Healthy Food? 🤔 The Food as Medicine movement is transforming healthcare by making nutritious food a critical part of treatment and prevention for chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. 🍎💊 Led by experts like Hilary Seligman from University of California, San Francisco, programs like Vouchers 4 Veggies (EatSF) provide low-income patients with "produce prescriptions" to access healthy food. Major players like Kaiser Permanente are investing big—$50M to integrate Food Is Medicine into care, while partnerships with nonprofits like Brighter Bites and Adelante Mujeres are expanding access across the country. These initiatives are supported by organizations like The Rockefeller Foundation and are crucial as we work towards healthier communities and reduced healthcare costs. Together, we’re reshaping the way we think about healthcare and nutrition. 🌱 Read more: https://lnkd.in/ghUW3-dG #HealthcareInnovation #NutritionMatters #FoodasMedicine

Do you believe that food is medicine? - Increasing research links the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to negative health outcomes, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive impairments. Despite this, public health programs and insurance plans often neglect to address UPFs explicitly, focusing instead on broader nutritional improvements. - The White House's Food is Medicine summit and various state Medicaid waivers are promoting healthier diets through medically tailored meals and produce prescriptions. However, these initiatives seldom address UPFs directly, with health insurers and policymakers generally overlooking the need for restrictions on these foods. - Efforts to tackle UPF-related health issues face obstacles such as a lack of universal definitions, limited insurer focus on UPFs, and widespread UPF availability. Technological solutions and state Medicaid interventions are progressing, but comprehensive policy changes and greater insurer engagement are needed to effectively address UPF consumption. Thank you Fierce Healthcare & Noah Tong for covering such an important topic that heavily impacts our country. Food is the medicine we take 3-5 times a day! #foodismedicine #foodasmedicine #ultraprocessedfood #nutrition #prevention

I am intrigued about the recent debate around Medicaid's "food is medicine" initiative as it raises an important question: Are medically tailored meals truly meeting the nutritional needs of beneficiaries and improving health outcomes? While the program aims to address chronic health conditions through diet, critics argue about the quality and effectiveness of these meals. It’s crucial to balance innovative approaches with rigorous assessments to validate their benefits. What is the effectiveness of such programs in achieving their health goals? https://lnkd.in/ekgskdim

This insightful article from MedCity News discusses the promising future of Food as Medicine. At Tangelo, we're committed to transforming healthcare through nutritious food benefits that support healthier lives. As we continue to advocate for innovative solutions in the food and healthcare sectors, we believe that integrating nutrition into treatment plans can significantly enhance patient outcomes. Dive into the article here: https://lnkd.in/eXcgTZpC #FoodAsMedicine #HealthcareInnovation #Tangelo #NutritionMatters

The NHS is facing a HEALTH CRISIS like never before, yet as George Winter reports in his latest article of 30 March 2024 - https://lnkd.in/ew8pD_VJ, the majority of Scottish NHS Boards acknowledge that they spent over half a MILLION POUNDS on sugary/carb-rich foods in the 2022/2023 financial year! It seems they CANNOT nor WILL NOT implement Real Food healthy options and thereby help drive the obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemics ever forward. #NHScrisis #obesity #type2diabetes #realfood

Very good initiative.