Press Release

Reinforces Health Plan's Focus on Advancing Health Equity Across Four-State Footprint

PITTSBURGH (February 27, 2024) — Highmark Health, with its affiliated companies and foundation, will commit more than $30 million through 2030 to enhance food security, nutrition education, and physical activity in the communities it serves. This is part of the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities, announced today by the Biden-Harris Administration.

Highmark Health responded to the nationwide call-to-action to advance President Biden’s goal to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030 while also reducing health disparities. The five pillars of this new national strategy are improving food access and affordability; integrating nutrition and health; empowering all consumers to make and have access to healthier choices; supporting physical activity for all; and enhancing nutrition and food security research.

"Today's announcement reaffirms Highmark Health's commitment to advancing food security, nutrition education, and physical activity as key parts of our strategy to achieve better and more equitable community health across Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and beyond," said Nebeyou Abebe, senior vice president, social determinants of health for Highmark Health.

Highmark Health has launched several initiatives across its footprint as part of its Food as Health strategy around food insecurity as it relates to addressing the root causes of poor health, improving health outcomes, and reducing costs.

In the next two years alone, in alignment with the five pillars of the national strategy, Highmark Health will:

• Conduct over one million assessments across its four-state footprint with patients and members to identify and address non-medical barriers to health, including food insecurity;
• More than double the number of community organizations eligible for value-based payments for addressing food insecurity and other social care gaps;
• More than double the number of individuals assisted through a multi-sector food insecurity collaborative in rural Appalachia;
• And expand the capacity of Allegheny Health Network's Healthy Food Centers to be able to serve more than 20,000 new patients and their families over the next two years, providing them with free, nutritious foods and nutrition counseling.

“With Highmark’s rich history of community impact, we are uniquely positioned to deepen our commitment to advancing health equity through our strong channel of community and multi-sector partnerships, innovative social care models, and integrated delivery network in support of the National strategy to end hunger and build healthy communities,” said Kenya T. Boswell, senior vice president, community affairs, Highmark Health.

Through the Highmark Bright Blue Futures charitable giving and community involvement program and its foundation, Highmark Health invests in partnerships and initiatives aimed at addressing food insecurity, nutrition education and encouraging regular physical activity. This is part of the overall strategy to improve health and resilience for everyone in the communities Highmark Health serves.

Social Determinants of Health programs are available to support members across the country with dedicated community investments in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Northeastern New York, Western New York, and West Virginia. Members can call the number on back of their insurance ID card to be connected with support or visit highmark.findhelp.com.