Food as medicine: Nutrition programs for payers can support the health of members

Since the healthcare industry is increasingly working with food as medicine, the payment programs for nutritional care with a focus on nutrition can support.

Non -transferable diseases (NCDs) cause almost three out of four deaths worldwide, including cancer, stroke and diabetes. A healthy diet is equipped as protection against many of these diseases and arouses a significant interest in considering food as medicine. Food can be one of the most powerful forms of disease prevention – with the correct approach and compliance with nutrition plans.

The food as a medical movement made the attention of stakeholders aware of the healthcare industry. Concepts such as food recipes, food pharmacies, medically tailor -made meals and the food are increasingly popular in both patients and providers.

Payers have the opportunity to keep the way. The efforts of nursing management can help improve the results through integrated nutritional and diet-based programs that take into account the experience of the whole person by integrating social determinants of health and social drivers.

Integration of chronic care management: The possibilities for payers only grow

Chronic diseases can benefit from deliberate interference of food from payers. Six out of ten people in the USA navigate at least one chronic disease, with four out of ten or more essential drivers of the annual health costs of 4.1 trillion dollars.

The treatment of food as medicine should be a pillar of proactive prevention for health payers, which help to alleviate the disease costs. This applies in particular if these nutrition programs focus on the highest risk members with several chronic diseases. Many of the diseases that can benefit the most from food interventions such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity overlaps and are very avoidable, potentially even reversible. Most payers are only aimed at 15 to 20% of their members for nursing management, so that the potential for prevention can be extensive.

CARE Management programs are involved in their health trip, help them learn on the way and keep them active in decision-making. Members with diseases that benefit from nutritional changes or with medication that interact with certain foods such as warfarin, propranolol and ACE inhibitors are ideal goals for these programs.

Driving the patient consumer movement: How social media can include members

Payers can use their brands social media accounts to encourage the member population to prioritize the nutrition in their health decisions. This can be available through evidence -based health information and content and also within membership portals. Social media managers can pursue the commitment of the follower to better understand the broad attitudes towards nursing management programs, educational material and materials for navigating discussions with doctors and family.

In order to treat food as medicine, payers should use interest rates to improve nutritional decisions and to note that social media is an area of ​​growing activities.

• 54% of Americans met food and nutritional content on social media in 2024, compared to 42% in 2023.
• 68% say you trust the information you find.
• 65% say that online tools and mobile apps can help you improve your diet and physical activity.
• Older generations are more likely to see food and nutritional content on Facebook, while younger generations see this more on Instagram and Tiktok.

However, the three best trustworthy sources were still members of the health professions, registered nutrients and wellness trainers. Only 38% of the Americans would trust a doctor or nutritionist on social media, so it can be an additional medium to achieve members and influence positive habits.