Health Partners Plans Presents Results of Groundbreaking Food Access Program at World’s Largest Nutrition Conference

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Managed Care Weekly Digest -- Pennsylvania-based managed care organization Health Partners Plans (HPP) will present the results of its innovative food access partnership at the world renowned Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo™ (FNCE®) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Chicago on Tuesday, October 24, 2017. This historical conference is marking its 100th year of education and advocacy by showcasing cutting-edge programs devoted to improving health through food and nutrition (see also Health Partners Plans).

HPP's presentation will highlight its unique collaboration with Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA), a Philadelphia based nonprofit that offers nutritious meals and counsel to individuals and families living with life-threatening illnesses. Not only has the partnership improved health outcomes, but it has also proven to be a cost-effective health care model by addressing the lack of nutritious, affordable food for HPP's most chronically ill Medicaid members.

This first-of-its-kind program "prescribes" medically tailored meals, prepared and distributed by MANNA, three times a day, seven days a week-at no cost to HPP members. The latest results show this "food as medicine" model has decreased diabetic members' HbA1c scores by 26 percent and lowered medical costs by 27 percent.

"We're honored to share our unprecedented partnership at FNCE's highly selective meeting where only 29 percent of applicants were invited to present their findings," said President and CEO William S. George. "Our hope is that by showcasing this transformative program at the world's largest annual meeting of food and nutrition professionals, other health care organizations will follow our lead and try this holistic approach to healing because it works."

Since the program's inception in 2015, over 470,000 nutritious meals have been delivered to more than 1,858 medically vulnerable members suffering from various illnesses including diabetes, heart disease, malnutrition and kidney failure.

"When no other health plan figured out how to make this work, Health Partners Plans showed commitment and made it happen," said CEO of MANNA Susan Daugherty.

"Our food access program has been an extraordinary opportunity to help our members manage their diets and alleviate a costly and physically challenging burden as they battle their illness," added Mr. George.

FNCE® will bring together more than 10,000 registered dietitians, nutrition science researchers, policy makers, health care providers and industry leaders. The conference features innovative research through more than 130 educational presentations, lectures, panel discussions and culinary demonstrations. About Health Partners Plans Health Partners Plans, an innovative not-for-profit managed care organization, is the only Medicaid plan in Pennsylvania and is among just 11 Medicaid plans nationwide with an accreditation status of Excellent as of September 26, 2017. This is the highest status bestowed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Health Partners Plans serves more than 281,000 members in Southeastern Pennsylvania and the Lehigh/Capital region. It provides a broad range of health coverage options through Health Partners Medicare, Health Partners (Medicaid) and KidzPartners (Children's Health Insurance Program) plans. Founded more than 30 years ago, Health Partners Plans is one of the few hospital-owned health plans in the country. Learn more about how Health Partners Plans is doing it right at HealthPartnersPlans.com, twitter.com/HPPlans and facebook.com/healthpartnersplans. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171023006483/en/

Keywords for this news article include: Managed Care, Health Policy, Diet and Nutrition, Health Partners Plans, Medicare and Medicaid.

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