UHC Awards $200K in Social Determinants of Health Grants in NM

UnitedHealthcare is offering four grants to community organizations that are addressing social determinants of health in New Mexico, UnitedHealth Group announced.

“Healthy living goes beyond the doctor’s office, and our grants will enable local organizations to help people access food, affordable housing and social services to live healthier lives,” said Andrew Peterson, chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare Community & State of New Mexico.

“A community-based approach to addressing social determinants of health is essential to achieving health equity and building healthier communities in New Mexico and across the country.”

The company granted $200,000 to the Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico, ABQ FaithWorks Collaborative, Economic Council Helping Others, Inc. (ECHO), and Senior.One.

Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico will receive over $91,280 from UnitedHealthcare. The funds will go toward food assistance for students at two public schools in southeast New Mexico. The grant will also support nutritional programs for individuals with chronic diseases tied to food, such as diabetes.

ABQ FaithWorks Collaborative provides housing assistance and eviction protection, efforts which UnitedHealthcare will bolster with its donation of $47,800. Additionally, the organization will use the grant to sponsor a community advocate. The advocate will serve as a bridge between consumers and local community and managed care organizations.

ECHO will use the $32,500 in funds to offer emergency relief funding for rental and mortgage payments. The support will go toward 25 to 40 families in need. Along with housing payments assistance, the families will receive food nutrition boxes with accommodations for chronic diseases.

Finally, Senior.One is an organization that supports seniors and caregivers. The organization offers care navigation for social determinants of health needs like senior housing and in-home care. In-home primary care can be important for seniors, allowing them to retain a relationship with their trusted primary care provider while also getting help at home or giving them access to providers when transportation is limited.

Senior.One will receive $25,000 for its seniors program.

“Food banks, like ours, are intentionally and purposefully focusing on the impact of hunger on health with current and new programs,” said Katy Anderson, chief programs officer of Roadrunner Food Bank.

“Thanks to donors like UnitedHealthcare, we can increase the availability of nutritious food to the communities we serve. One area this funding will assist with is through our Childhood Hunger Initiative, which provides our school partners access to a monthly mobile food distribution, where half of the food provided is fresh fruits and vegetables.”

UnitedHealthcare has 205,000 members in the state of New Mexico in employer-sponsored health plans and individual health insurance plans as well as Medicare and retirement plans. The company’s network in the region spans 41 hospitals and more than 11,000 providers.

The investments address a couple of different social determinants of health domains, with a particular emphasis on neighborhood and built environment factors.

Earlier in 2022, UnitedHealth Group dedicated $25 million toward a mixed-income housing project in New England.

UnitedHealthcare is not alone in its efforts. Other major payers have also taken steps to address social determinants of health needs across the US.