Better Outcomes and Lower Costs

Box contents vary by modality (MSF, MTG, or MTM), health plan contract, and seasonal availability. MSF and MTG boxes contain approximately 15–18 lbs of fresh produce and shelf-stable pantry items sourced locally where possible. MTM boxes contain pre-frozen, portioned meals from partner kitchens. All boxes are curated by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and updated seasonally.

Project FoodBox delivers three distinct modalities determined by the member's clinical profile, plan contract, and condition-specific nutritional requirements: Medically Supportive Food (MSF) provides fresh produce aligned with national dietary guidelines; Medically Tailored Groceries (MTG) provide condition-specific produce and pantry items curated by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist; Medically Tailored Meals (MTM) provide pre-portioned frozen meals from partner kitchens designed to meet condition-specific targets. Modality selection is determined at enrollment by the RDN in coordination with the health plan benefit authorization.

Eligibility requires active enrollment in a contracted Medicaid or Medi-Cal managed care plan and a documented qualifying condition. In California, qualifying conditions include type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and obesity-related diagnoses as defined under CalAIM Community Supports. In New York, eligibility includes conditions such as pregnancy, recent unemployment, and documented food insecurity. See our list of qualifying conditions for details.

No member cost-sharing applies. Benefits are fully covered through the contracted health plan. Members should not be charged a co-pay, enrollment fee, or delivery charge under any circumstances.

Enrollment begins with an eligibility verification against the member's contracted health plan. Once confirmed, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist reviews the member's clinical profile to determine the appropriate box configuration. The member is then enrolled, and deliveries are scheduled. Enrollment can be initiated via clinician referral, care coordinator referral, or—depending on plan contract—member self-referral.

Referral requirements vary by health plan contract. Some plans require a formal physician referral with ICD-10 documentation; others accept referrals from care coordinators, social workers, or community health workers; and some plans allow member self-enrollment. Contact our partnership team to discuss the referral pathway for your specific plan.

Documentation requirements are plan-dependent. When required, documentation must include the member's full legal name, a qualifying diagnosis or ICD-10 code, and a date of service within the last 12 months. Acceptable formats include after-visit summaries, clinical progress notes, or updated diagnosis lists from the patient portal. Documents can be submitted by email, text, or fax as listed on our website, and providers may submit documentation directly on the member's behalf.

In California, the program operates under CalAIM Community Supports and Enhanced Care Management benefit structures and is compatible with plan-approved In Lieu of Services (ILOS) authorizations. In New York, the program is structured to align with Medicaid Managed Care value-added benefit and medically tailored nutrition service designations. Contact our partnership representatives for pathway-specific contracting details.

Authorization periods are plan-determined. Some plans issue time-bound authorizations (for example, 90-day or 6-month benefit periods with renewal); others authorize continued enrollment contingent on a qualifying condition and active health plan membership. We work within each plan's authorization framework and can provide renewal prompts as part of our reporting cadence.

We provide aggregate and member-level reporting covering enrollment status, delivery completion rates, program adherence, and available clinical outcome indicators. Report structures are designed to support HEDIS quality metric documentation, care management workflow integration, and plan-level ROI analysis. Custom reporting cadences, formats, and data-sharing protocols are available depending on plan contract terms.