BlueCross BlueShield to deliver free fruit, vegetables to members
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is partnering with Boston-based FarmboxRx, a nutrition company that works with health insurers across the country to increase their members’ access to healthy foods. (Courtesy FarmboxRx)
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has a new partner to help address statewide food insecurity.
The state’s largest insurer has teamed up with Boston-based FarmboxRx, a nutrition company that works with health insurers across the country to increase their members’ access to healthful foods.
BCBST members who’ve completed preventative health screenings can receive deliveries of free fresh fruits and vegetables shipped directly to their doors. The deliveries also include condition-specific educational literature and details about BCBST benefits.
In Tennessee, one in seven residents faces hunger, and 40% of the state’s families with children say they are food insecure, according to Feeding America.
In addition, grocery store prices have surged to the point where the Federal Trade Commission said it plans to investigate.
BCBST covers 3.4 million Tennesseans, including recipients of Medicare and Medicaid. Lack of access to affordable, healthful foods increases members’ risk for developing chronic health issues and complications, according to the insurer.
Casey Dungan is president and CEO of BlueCare Tennessee, a subsidiary of BCBST. Through TennCare, it covers many lower-income pregnant women, children and their parents or caregivers, seniors and Tennesseans with disabilities.
“Our partnership with FarmboxRx is one of the newest elements of BlueCare Tennessee’s overall strategy to decrease food insecurity, improve health outcomes and promote preventive care for members in the greater Memphis area and around the state,” he said.
“We’re committed to improving health equity by addressing social drivers of health – the obstacles, like lack of access to nutritious food, that can lead to unfair differences in health status,” Dungan said. “We know that good nutrition is key to achieving and maintaining overall wellbeing, and it’s especially important for children and for people with chronic conditions like diabetes.”
The partnership with FarmboxRx comes on the heels of a BCBST health equity report that examined contributors to health disparities. Among the findings: Members with disabilities are 60% more likely than others to have transportation issues, and Black members are four times more likely to suffer from debt burden compared to their white peers.
“To narrow health disparities, we need to first tackle the social determinants of health affecting these communities,” said Ashley Tyrner, FarmboxRx founder and CEO.
“Food insecurity is a multidimensional issue — and it’s not always as simple as having access to food,” she said. “Given the unique challenges each community faces, it’s critical we assess state-specific barriers to nutrition and subsequent health issues. Our health plan partners recognize this, and I’m grateful for their commitment to our shared mission.”
Topics
food insecurity Blue Cross Blue Shield TennCare food desertAisling Mäki
Aisling Mäki covers health care, banking and finance, technology and professions. After launching her career in news two decades ago, she worked in public relations for almost a decade before returning to journalism in 2022.
As a health care reporter, she’s collaborated with The Carter Center, earned awards from the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists and won a 2024 Tennessee Press Association first-place prize for her series on discrepancies in Shelby County life expectancy by ZIP code.
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