A health insurer launched a pilot program that takes aim at food insecurity in addressing the healthcare needs of beneficiaries—the first time that’s ever happened, according to those who spearheaded the effort.
Kaiser Permanente and Geisinger Health Plan have also used a food-as-medicine approach in attempting to improve health outcomes, but here’s the difference: They are integrated health systems that own their own hospitals and physician practices, while Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is not.
Blue Cross NC unveiled data published in NEJM Catalyst about its proof-of-concept pilot program that involved delivering food to individuals in Affordable Care Act plans who suffer from Type 2 diabetes as well as connecting them with health advisers. Despite the success of the effort, the findings included many caveats that suggest that it could be some time before the pilot program evolves and lands a spot on the insurer’s roster of benefits packages.
Still, the authors called it a good first step that underscores great potential.
They also noted that “payers are in a unique position to integrate food-as-medicine interventions into more sustainable financial models. As a payer, the business case needs to be made for offering products and services that address the food and nutritional needs of its members.”
More than 600,000 North Carolina residents struggle to put food on the table, with the state ranking as the tenth hungriest in the country. The pilot’s results come at a time when the expansion of food-aid programs because of the COVID-19 pandemic has run out and inflation is driving up the price of groceries.
Blue Cross NC's program was launched in December 2020, and invitations to eligible beneficiaries were sent out in January 2021. The insurer hired the digital health coaching vendor Pack Health, a division of Quest Diagnostics, to help administer the program.
A typical box of food could include salmon, carrots, beans, rice, pasta, sauce, applesauce, milk and crushed tomatoes. Deliveries included easy-to-make recipes, according to the study.
Blue Cross NC researchers compared the results of surveys at three and six months to baseline metrics. The surveys measured physical and mental health, body mass index, hemoglobin A1c levels, self-reported food security and member satisfaction.
They also looked at medical expenses for the 555 “completes,” those who finished the program, and the 327 “partials.” Completes received 12 boxes of food and six months of coaching. Partials received six to 11 boxes of food and three to five months of coaching but dropped out of the program.
Most participants (81%) were satisfied with the frequency of food delivery as well as the amount of food delivered (82%).
Food insecurity for the completes dipped from 38% to 20%, BMI (35 kg/m2 to 33 kg/m2) and obesity (72% to 61%). Completes saw an increase in individuals who reached the U.S. average for physical health measures (51% to 65%) and mental health measures (70% to 80%).
In addition, completes saw a $139 reduction per member per month in total medical costs and an increase of $8 per member per month in pharmacy costs, which the researchers interpreted as evidence of greater medication adherence.
Partials, meanwhile, saw a decrease of $10 per member per month in pharmacy costs, but an increase in all other cost types.
“The relative number of partials responding to the 3- and 6-month surveys was low; therefore, we do not discuss the 6-month results of this group, nor do we attempt to draw meaningful conclusions regarding differences across participation groups,” the study said.
Nonetheless, researchers estimate that if the program becomes available to all eligible beneficiaries, it could cut medical expenses by as much as $8.5 million to $13.1 million a year.
“These findings highlight that an upfront investment by an insurer can help improve health outcomes,” according to a Blue Cross NC spokesperson. “The food delivery and health coaching pilot program is one of a series focused on long-term strategies for eliminating health disparities, strengthening communities and making health care more affordable, accessible and easier to navigate for all North Carolinians.”
In April 2021, the health plan unveiled partnerships with state organizations including Benefits Data Trust, Manna Food Bank, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC that focused on trying to boost enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“With an initial focus on food security, the insurer is advancing its work to promote health equity with new prevention programs and value-added services,” Blue Cross NC said in a statement at the time. “Beyond just offering these services for members, the insurer is also measuring their impact. This research will identify which steps will be effective long-term strategies for eliminating health disparities, strengthening communities, developing impactful member products, and reducing health care costs for North Carolinians.”
Researchers also note that the results from its food delivery and health coaching program published in NEJM Catalyst are far from conclusive, and further study needs to be done.
“Because all program participants received health coaching, the design makes it impossible to disentangle the effects of the food delivery component from those of the health coaching,” the study states. “Interaction with the [health adviser] was regular, with program participants and [health advisers] communicating at least once per week by telephone and six to seven times per week via text message.”
In addition, researchers want to evaluate whether the gains seen in a six-month period could be sustained over the long haul and what effect greater member participation might have on the program’s sustainability.
“Analyses are planned to evaluate the long-term impact of the … program,” the study states.