UK HealthCare launches Food as Health initiative across state

LEXINGTON — UK HealthCare is launching a Food as Health program, a new initiative that delivers "food is medicine" services to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations across Kentucky.

The program has secured contracts with three Medicaid managed care organizations in Kentucky — Passport by Molina, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) and Aetna Better Health — as well as an internal partnership with Bluegrass Care Clinic. Through these agreements, UK HealthCare is delivering "food is medicine" services to Medicaid recipients across the state, reinforcing Kentucky's designation as a Food is Medicine state following a joint resolution by the Kentucky state legislature.

"We aim to improve clinical outcomes, reduce healthcare costs and provide a tailored user-friendly program," said Alison Gustafson, Ph.D., executive director of the Food as Health program. "While we are excited about our launch, we also hope to use this model for our state and expand program services to reach other populations and key groups such as those living with cancer and cardiovascular disease."

The Food as Health program partners with health insurance providers and health care systems to deliver comprehensive food is medicine services for a variety of diet-sensitive chronic conditions and even for those hoping to manage their weight. The Food as Health program for this year is targeting pregnant women, adults living with HIV and adults living with type 2 diabetes.

The Food as Health program provides a suite of options including medically tailored meals, meal kits or a grocery prescription program which allows enrollees to purchase select healthy food items in-store, online or from farmers' markets. The high patient touch experience includes nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian, case management, data tracking, evaluation and full patient support aimed at improving both clinical outcomes and overall health for program enrollees.

Gustafson, who also is a professor in the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition in the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, said the Food as Health program is just one piece of the puzzle of the entire Food is Medicine campaign being led by Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell, the Kentucky Hospital Association and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

The Food as Health program allows for a unique collaboration between health care providers, insurance companies and community organizations. This program can be partnered with existing food security programs, such as food pantry programs, to provide a tailored food is medicine program aimed at improving clinical outcomes for high-risk patients.