New Humana Community Partnerships to Strengthen Health Equity

Humana, and its philanthropic arm, the Humana Foundation, have advanced its commitment to health equity by unveiling an advanced strategy that focuses on addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and healthcare barriers. This health equity strategy includes investments in new community partnerships and the creation of a dedicated advisory board.

The payer will allocate funding towards community-centered organizations and evidence-based programs committed to supporting the well-being of seniors, veterans, and school-aged children. Humana will particularly focus on food insecurity.

Food insecurity is a leading SDOH that impacts nearly 33.8 million people, according to federal data. The SDOH adversely affects minority groups and can cause a ripple effect, worsening health outcomes, economic standings, and healthcare costs.

“Food insecurity is a major problem that correlates with healthcare disparities,” Kim Allan Williams Sr, MD, cardiologist and department chair, University of Louisville School of Medicine, said in a press release.

“Nutrition education and food quality issues plague our African American community, keeping heart disease as the leading killer of Americans,” Williams added. “Our trials will help detect disease in those who are at risk and manage those already diagnosed using lifestyle changes, medication, enhanced access to cardiac care, and advanced diagnostic imaging.”

The latest investment will enable collaboration with the UNC Eshelman Institute for Innovation to finance solutions to improve community health and expand access to nutrition developed by Black collegiate entrepreneurs.

The Humana Foundation also built a partnership with the Community Farm Alliance of Kentucky to support its Food is Medicine program that provides medically tailored meals.

Additionally, more than $8 million will be directed towards organizations such as the University of Louisville (UofL), Dare to Care, FoodCorps, and the Sustainable Food Center that concentrate on regional nutrition programs.

“Every day, people face a multitude of choices that can affect their health and quality of life,” said Tiffany Benjamin, CEO of the Humana Foundation. “In too many communities, these choices are limited by factors beyond their control. That is why we are expanding healthy choices for communities and eliminating social and structural barriers, so that more people can reach their full health potential.”