HealthPartners adds FarmboxRx benefit to improve access to healthy food for seniors

Eligible MSHO members can receive up to two boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables each month, delivered directly to their homes for free

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – HealthPartners is partnering with FarmboxRx to offer a new benefit for Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) (HMO SNP) for 2022, allowing eligible members to receive fresh produce delivered to their homes for free. HealthPartners is the first health plan in Minnesota to introduce FarmboxRx boxes to Medicare members, part of the organization's ongoing effort to address social and community factors that impact overall health, including food insecurity.

Eligible MSHO members can receive up to two boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables each month, beginning January 1, 2022. The boxes contain different seasonal options designed by a team of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and can be customized for specific health conditions. They also include nutrition and food education materials.

The new FarmboxRx fresh grocery delivery benefit is the latest of several HealthPartners initiatives to address food insecurity. Other initiatives include PowerUp, fruit and vegetable prescriptions, food insecurity screenings and partnerships with organizations such as SuperShelf and Hunger Solutions.

“We're proud to be the first health plan in Minnesota to offer the FarmboxRx fresh produce delivery and nutrition education program as a benefit to our members,” said Jim Eppel, HealthPartners executive vice president and chief administrative officer. “Many seniors are facing challenges to food access like never before, especially among our MSHO membership. These fresh produce boxes will help improve members' access to reliable, nutritious foods that make a big difference to their overall health and quality of life.”

“Many of the chronic health conditions impacting our senior population today can be linked back to nutrition insecurity, which is why FarmboxRx is thrilled to be the latest addition to the HealthPartners benefit roster,” said Ashley Tyrner, CEO and founder of FarmboxRx. “We are proud to be working together to provide nutritious food access to our at-risk population and help break the chronic disease cycle.”

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), MSHO enrollees are lower-income and have more medical conditions and disabilities. Their social determinants of health can present challenges to improving their care experience and health outcomes.

MSHO is a voluntary health plan for people age 65 and older who have Medical Assistance and Medicare Parts A and B. It combines coverage into one plan, including coverage for medical, prescription drug, dental and long-term care benefits. In addition, HealthPartners offers unique benefits to eligible MSHO members, including coverage for fresh produce boxes, animatronic support pets, electronic tablets and caregiver support.

This is the second year in a row that HealthPartners MSHO plan earned an overall 5 out of 5-Star Rating from the CMS. For the 2021 plan year, HealthPartners became the first and only MSHO plan in Minnesota to receive 5 stars.

Learn more about HealthPartners MSHO at healthpartners.com/msho.