Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Taps FarmboxRx for Food as Medicine Initiative

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (BCBST) is partnering with healthy food company FarmboxRx to address food insecurity across the state, the companies announced Thursday.

Boston-based FarmboxRx contracts with payers (primarily Medicaid and Medicare programs) to deliver produce boxes, cooking kits, educational materials and pantry items to patients’ doors. It operates in all 50 states and works with more than 90 health plans, including Molina Healthcare of New Mexico.

Through the new partnership, FarboxRx’s support is opening up to an additional 3.5 million members in Tennessee. BCBST members will receive healthy food deliveries after they complete preventive health screenings, like a diabetic eye exam, A1c blood test, blood pressure control and well-child visits. 

The deliveries come once a month and include fresh produce and non-perishable pantry items. They also include educational materials about their condition and covered health benefits. These materials can be provided in multiple languages and are meant to “encourage members to adopt a proactive and informed approach to their well-being and the well-being of their families,” according to the announcement.

“Our goal with this partnership is to further our mission of getting healthy food in the hands of those who need it most, while promoting self-efficacy among vulnerable populations and improving health outcomes,” Ashley Tyrner, founder and CEO of FarmboxRx, told MedCity News. Tyrner built FarmboxRx based on her own experience as a single mother living on food stamps in a rural food desert.

Tennessee is in need of additional food and nutrition support. Currently, one in seven people in Tennessee battle hunger, and 40% of families with children are food insecure. The top four contributors to food insecurity are disability and disease, fixed income, age and being a single parent, according to a recent report from FarmboxRx. BCBST also recently released a health equity report that details the social risk factors, such as access to healthy food and housing, that affect health disparities in the state.

“To narrow health disparities, we need to first tackle the social determinants of health affecting these communities,” Tyrner said in a statement. “Food insecurity is a multidimensional issue – and it’s not always as simple as having access to food. Given the unique challenges each community faces, it’s critical we assess state-specific barriers to nutrition and subsequent health issues.”

The partnership comes after FarmboxRx launched a maternal health program in March, which is customizable by health plan and sends members a food box with educational content.

Food as medicine is a growing space in the healthcare industry. Other startups addressing food and nutrition include Season Health, NourishedRx and Fay.

Photo: fcafotodigital, Getty Images