Food as Medicine: Nutrition as a prescription.

Are you a provider looking to support your patients with chronic health conditions? 18 Reasons can offer grocery delivery paired with virtual nutrition and cooking classes through Medi-Cal's CalAIM Community Supports benefit. 

18 Reasons’ Medically Supportive Foods program, Food as Medicine, supports your patients in meeting their nutrition goals. Referring your patients to 18 Reasons is fast and easy!

You can either:

  • Complete the 18 Reasons’ interest form. We will then review the patient’s eligibility and place the referral directly with the health plan on behalf of the patient.

Contra Costa Health Plan:  bit.ly/FAMinterestform

Central California Alliance for Health:  bit.ly/FAMMercedProviders (Merced)

Anthem San Francisco: https://bit.ly/FAMAnthem

  • Place the CalAIM Community Suppors referral directly to the health plan using their provider portal. Specify “18 Reasons” as the vendor and “groceries” or “grocery boxes” as the desired service.

Eligibility:

  • Patients must be a Medi-Cal member
  • Patients must live in an eligible county and have coverage through one of the following managed care plans: Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP), Central California Alliance for Health (CCAH), Anthem San Francisco.
  • Patients must have a diet-sensitive chronic condition.

Examples:

  • Gestational diabetes
  • Pregnancy and/or postpartum
  • Cancer(s)
  • Cardiovascular disorders
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Chronic lung disorders or other pulmonary conditions, such as asthma/COPD
  • Heart failure
  • Diabetes or other metabolic conditions
  • Elevated lead levels
  • End-stage renal disease
  • High cholesterol
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • Hypertension
  • Liver disease, dyslipidemia, fatty liver
  • Malnutrition
  • Obesity
  • Stroke
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Chronic or disabling mental/behavioral health disorders. 

Please note that this list does not contain ALL eligible diagnoses.

Have questions? Get in touch! Call us at (415) 568-2713 or send an email to foodasmedicine@18reasons.org. See our privacy policy here.