Instacart and Medical Home Network Collaborate to Combat Food Insecurity

Medical Home Network and Instacart have partnered to address food insecurity, enabling federally qualified health centers to proactively address food insecurity at the point of care. Instacart's SNAP Screener is embedded into MHN's care management platform, allowing care teams to determine SNAP eligibility, facilitate enrollment, and show patients how to use benefits via Instacart. This collaboration aims to support frontline healthcare workers in connecting individuals eligible for SNAP benefits.

The intersection of healthcare and food security is becoming increasingly recognized as a crucial aspect of overall health and well-being. Two influential players in their respective domains, Instacart and the Medical Home Network (MHN), have recently joined forces to address food insecurity at the point of care.

Instacart, a leading North American grocery technology company, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a public-private partnership in late January [1]. The partnership aims to support and scale food as medicine programs, improve health outcomes, and promote health equity across the United States. Instacart's collaboration with MHN is a testament to this commitment.

MHN, a network of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), has integrated Instacart's SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Screener into its care management platform. This innovative feature enables care teams to determine SNAP eligibility, facilitate enrollment, and guide patients on how to use their benefits through Instacart [2].

The importance of addressing food insecurity at the point of care cannot be overstated. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately 34 million people in the United States lived in food-insecure households in 2020 [3]. Furthermore, food insecurity is linked to various health issues, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease [4].

Instacart's SNAP Screener integration into MHN's platform not only helps FQHCs identify eligible patients but also empowers them to access nutritious food more efficiently. This collaboration is expected to support frontline healthcare workers in connecting individuals to SNAP benefits and ultimately improving health outcomes.

The partnership between Instacart and MHN is a prime example of how technology and healthcare can collaborate to tackle pressing societal issues. By addressing food insecurity at the point of care, this partnership is poised to make a significant impact on the lives of millions of Americans.

References:

[1] Instacart and HHS Launch Public-Private Partnership to Scale Food as Medicine Programs and Improve Health Outcomes Across the United States. (2024, January 31). Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/instacart-and-hhs-launch-public-private-partnership-to-scale-food-as-medicine-programs-and-improve-health-outcomes-across-the-united-states-302048775.html

[2] Medical Home Network and Instacart Partner to Address Food Insecurity at the Point of Care. (2024, February 2). Retrieved from https://www.instacart.com/news/medical-home-network-instacart-partner-to-address-food-insecurity

[3] Food Security in the United States. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition/food-security

[4] Food Insecurity and Health. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224606/