CareSource Donates $50K to Grady’s Food as Medicine Program

Partnership to Support Access to Healthy, Affordable Food

ATLANTA (December 1, 2022) – CareSource, a mission driven Medicaid plan serving more than 500,000 Georgians, announced today a $50,000 investment to Grady Health System’s Food as Medicine Program, which gives members of the Grady community, including patients, families, employees, and visitors access to nutritious food. A large portion of the population in downtown Atlanta faces food insecurity, and this investment will ensure that patients who come to Grady Hospital will be screened for food insecurity and connected to the necessary resources.

“The importance of food in health and wellness cannot be understated and improving accessibility to nutritious meals can increase positive health outcomes,” said John Haupert, president and CEO of Grady Health System. “We are proud to partner with CareSource in our ongoing mission to address one of the key social determinants of health.”

Housed in Grady’s Jesse Hill Market, the Food as Medicine Program, in partnership with Open Hand Atlanta and Atlanta Community Food Bank, aims to tackle chronic disease through healthy eating, particularly for those living in food deserts. The program also seeks to increase access to healthy, affordable food for patients, employees, and the community. An on-site food pharmacy is available to patients who have been screened positive for food insecurity. Patients with food prescriptions can pick fresh produce and a full set of meals to accommodate their dietary needs based on their condition and medications. In addition, the program provides cooking classes so patients can learn how to prepare nutritious meals for themselves.

“Good food is connected to good health, and CareSource is dedicated to finding solutions to improve health outcomes for Georgians,” said Jason Bearden, CareSource Georgia president. “The Food as Medicine program addresses a key social determinant of health. We are proud to support the Grady Hospital community and those with limited access to nutritious meals.”

ABOUT GRADY HEALTH SYSTEM

Grady Health System is one of the largest safety net health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, six neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate. With its nationally acclaimed emergency medical services, Grady is the only Level I trauma center in the Metro Atlanta region and serves as the 911 ambulance provider for the city of Atlanta. Grady's Walter L. Ingram Burn Center is the leading burn center in north Georgia. And the Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center is a Joint Commission designated Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center. Other key services/distinctions include Grady's Regional Perinatal Center with its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Georgia's first Cancer Center for Excellence, The Avon Comprehensive Breast Center, the Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, and the Ponce de Leon Center - one of the top HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country. Grady is one of an elite group of hospitals to earn the Baby-Friendly USA international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Designated birth facility.