New Data Shows Blue Cross NC’s Feed Your Health Program Reduces Health Care Costs, Improves Chronic Disease Management

DURHAM, N.C. - New data from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina's (Blue Cross NC) Feed Your Health program shows that connecting people with nutritious food and personalized support from registered dietitians can meaningfully reduce health care costs and improve health outcomes for people managing Type 2 diabetes. More than 1 million North Carolinians are living with diabetes, making it one of the most pressing chronic health challenges facing the state.

The new 12-month research demonstrates results across clinical and financial measures:

Lower Health Care Costs

• For individual under-65 participants, inpatient costs decreased $153 per member per month through 12 months post-enrollment.
• Individual under-65 participants also experienced fewer emergency room visits over the 12-month period.
• Medicare Advantage participant medical costs were $227 per member per month lower than non-participants in the 12 months following enrollment.
• While Medicare Advantage participants had an increase in diabetes-related prescription costs, those costs were offset by a 2x reduction in non-diabetes prescription costs - suggesting improved disease management and reduced need for other medications.

Improved Health Outcomes

• Participants achieved a clinically significant 1.5-point reduction in HbA1c (blood sugar) within six months.
• 86% of Medicare Advantage participants lowered their A1c below 9.0.
• 77% of individual under-65 participants lowered their A1c below 8.0.
• The share of participants reporting 10 or more unhealthy mental or physical health days decreased at 6 months and continued to decline through 12 months.

"Feed Your Health was built on a simple but powerful insight: to improve the health of North Carolinians and address rising health care costs, we must look beyond what happens in the exam room," said Dr. Marcus Wallace, Blue Cross NC Chief Medical Officer. "Chronic conditions continue to drive a significant share of health care costs, and these results show affordability in action. When we address food access, nutrition skills, and ongoing support alongside clinical care, we can help prevent complications before they become costly-and improve long term health in the process."

About 11% of adults statewide are living with diabetes, the vast majority with type 2 diabetes. The impact extends well beyond individual health, driving significant strain on families, employers, and the health care system. Diagnosed diabetes costs North Carolina an estimated $11.8 billion each year, including more than $11.2 billion in direct medical expenses and hundreds of millions more in lost productivity, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Health Through Food is one of several innovative approaches Blue Cross NC is advancing to make health care more affordable by addressing the root causes of chronic disease. These programs reflect Blue Cross NC's commitment to reducing costs not by shifting them to members, but by preventing high-cost care before it's needed.