Season Health partnership will focus on reducing hypertension, improving nutrition access

Season Health expects to reach more than 4,000 eligible patients across the commercial and Medicaid populations, through the Steward Hypertension Project and Steward Flex Services, a program funded by MassHealth through a 1115 waiver program, which provides federal funding for Medicaid programs “that support the goals of the Medicaid program, including improving health care outcomes and reducing costs,” according to the Massachusetts executive office of health and human services​.

Nearly half of American adults (48.1%, 119.9m) have hypertension and take medication to manage it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention​ (CDC). Diet and nutrition play a vital role in reducing cardiovascular disease, particularly around saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids, in addition to consumption of salt and sugar, according to the World Health Organization​ (WHO).

Leveraging Season Health’s food-as-medicine capabilities, including medical nutrition therapy from the platform’s network of registered dietitians, access to affordable medically-tailored meals and groceries, integrated benefits bank and food credits, the partnership will measure “each patient’s specific health condition, income level and food preferences,” Hix explained.

“For Season, this is an opportunity to partner with one of the largest physician-run for-profit healthcare organizations in the country, working with like-minded clinicians as we support patients with the greatest needs in terms of chronic conditions and nutrition insecurity,” Hix said.

Patients with a blood pressure at or above 140/90 mmHg (stage two) who are signed up for the hypertension program will have their blood pressure measured monthly, while patients’ health quality in the Flex Services program will be measured at the beginning and end of the program, in addition to measuring nutrition insecurity risk throughout, Hix elaborated.

“We expect to reduce stage two hypertension for patients in the hypertension program and improve both engagement and nutrition insecurity status for patients in the Flex Services Program,” he said.

For Steward Health, the partnership ​with Season “supports Steward’s commitment to meeting the nutrition needs of their members and addressing health equity for members across Mass.,” explained Jennie Vital, director, Medicaid ACO, Steward Health, adding that the program is designed to improve access and affordability for its members.