Fueling change: How food is powering health across North Carolina
At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), our Health Through Food efforts are making a positive impact across the state. From improving access to nutritious food, to reducing the health risks of hypertension and diabetes, to providing support for community organizations statewide, Blue Cross NC, alongside the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, is a leader in Food is Medicine initiatives. In this video you’ll hear from people driving these programs and people who have been impacted by them.
And what’s more, you’ll see how Health Through Food can lead to a healthier future for all North Carolinians.
[Music]
[Screen text] Rev. Richard Joyner, Founder & Board Chair, Conetoe Family Life Center
[Rev. Richard Joyner, Founder & Board Chair, Conetoe Family Life Center]
Food is medicine is when we learn how to manage our chronic disease through these vegetables.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, we stand synonymous. And that we want to see food is medicine in every corner, every place across North Carolina.
[Screen text] Merry Davis, Director, Health Through Food Signature Initiative
[Merry Davis, Director, Health Through Food Signature Initiative]
Blue Cross affirmed our commitment to improving health through food in North Carolina. For so long, health care had a certain box of tools, and when you add food to that toolbox, there's so much more that you can do.
Increasing food is medicine in health care practice, increasing access to healthy food in communities, and it's about equipping individuals with the information and the skills they need.
People are not just receiving food, but they're receiving that kind of deep care and social support.
[Screen text] Kasheta Jackson, VP of Communication Health, Eastern Carolina University
[Kasheta Jackson, VP of Communication Health, Eastern Carolina University]
Some of us may live in food deserts and this was an opportunity to provide produce that can help reduce hypertension, diabetes, and, congestive heart failure.
Having access to food truly is medicine because it affects your whole well-being.
[Screen text] Must be currently enrolled in an eligible Blue Cross NC health plan and meet certain eligibility requirements. Some plan exclusions may apply. For information regarding eligibility call NourishedRx at (844) 727-6670.
[Screen text] Kim, Blue Cross NC Member Since 2003
[Kim, Blue Cross NC Member Since 2003]
Feed Your Health is a program that Blue Cross and Blue Shield North Carolina offers.
I learned how to cook all of these fresh foods that were delivered to my house.
It’s the best thing I ever, ever did.
Like, wow.
[Screen text] Peter Skillern, CEO, Reinvestment Partners
[Peter Skillern, CEO, Reinvestment Partners]
The biggest obstacle to people eating healthy, according to surveys, is affordability. People have to be able to buy healthy foods. And that's the reason why our program provides that direct financial assistance for them to make their own choices about which foods best fit their needs.
Blue Cross is a leader not only in the state but nationally, pioneering food as medicine, both with operational support for nonprofits through pilots to determine which population needs to be served and through rigorous evaluation to determine what the health outcomes and financial savings are.
[Rev. Richard Joyner, Founder & Board Chair, Conetoe Family Life Center]
I cannot say enough about the support that that we get from Blue Cross to be able to feed 2500 families a week without people standing in line.
Blue Cross sees something in us. They see the soul of us.
This is our medicine.
[Screen text] Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
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