The Country’s Largest Not-For-Profit Healthcare Organization
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, a leading not-for-profit healthcare organization, has committed $7.1 million in grants to 31 community-based organizations across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia to address the growing issue of diabetes. This investment, part of CareFirst’s Place-Based Grants Initiative, aims to combat diabetes and other diet-related chronic conditions by improving access to healthy, affordable food and promoting overall community well-being.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the region, particularly impacting underserved communities. CareFirst’s Vice President, Lester Davis, stressed the importance of addressing food security and providing nutrition education as essential steps in preventing and managing diabetes. The investment will specifically target areas with a high prevalence of diabetes, identified as “Healthy Food Priority Areas,” to foster sustainable health improvements. The initiative will reach approximately 1.5 million people across the region.
The funded programs will focus on three primary objectives: expanding local food systems to provide better access to nutritious food, implementing food-as-medicine programs like produce prescription programs to assist with chronic disease management, and offering food literacy, nutrition education, and training for healthy meal preparation.
Kimberly Harris, CareFirst’s Director of Community Health and Social Impact, emphasized that addressing diabetes requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond clinical care to tackle social determinants of health such as food access and education. The organization’s investment prioritizes prevention over treatment to ensure all individuals, regardless of their zip code, have access to essential resources.
“Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, disproportionately affecting underserved communities in our region, so we must address it together,” said Lester Davis, Vice President and Chief of Staff, who leads CareFirst’s community and public health initiatives. “Food security and nutrition education play a critical role in preventing and managing diabetes. This is why CareFirst is investing in local programs that directly address these issues to ensure communities have access to the resources they need to lead healthier lives.”
“CareFirst’s commitment to place-based solutions aims to create lasting health improvements through access to nutritious food and education,” said Kimberly Harris, Director of Community Health and Social Impact at CareFirst and 2024-25 Chair for the American Diabetes Association’s State of Diabetes. “Addressing the root causes of diabetes requires a comprehensive approach that extends beyond clinical care to tackle the underlying social drivers of health. Our investment shifts the focus from treatment to prevention, ensuring everyone – regardless of zip code – has access to fresh, healthy food and essential health resources.”
Food insecurity is a significant challenge in the region. In Washington, D.C., one in eight residents struggles with consistent access to nutritious food, and in certain areas like Wards 7 and 8, one in five children face limited access to grocery stores. In Maryland, one in nine residents and one in seven children experience food insecurity, and in Northern Virginia, one in four people is affected. CareFirst’s investment seeks to alleviate the health burdens of food insecurity by improving access to nutritious food and resources.
In addition to the $7.1 million investment, CareFirst has previously dedicated $1.7 million to health improvement coalitions and community organizations addressing diabetes-related risk factors. The grant recipients include a wide range of organizations, such as the American Diabetes Association, DC Central Kitchen, Bread for the City, and YMCA of Central Maryland, all working to improve health outcomes through food security, education, and disease management.
For more information on CareFirst’s transformation efforts in healthcare, individuals can visit their official website. CareFirst has been a leader in supporting regional community health, contributing $233 million in 2023 alone to improve healthcare access and equity in the region. To learn more about how CareFirst is transforming healthcare, visit www.carefirst.com/transformation.
