Food boxes are supported by some insurance/employer plans. Members are approved to receive them in visits with their dietitian.
**If a member has previously received food boxes from one of the listed vendors and has already reached their lifetime limit, regardless of whether it was through Foodsmart, they will not be eligible for additional food boxes.
CalOptima Food Boxes
Please submit a ticket for any requests, changes, updates, or inquiries regarding food referrals.
When to submit a Food Support ticket for CalOptima food boxes?
It has been more than three weeks since the member completed the Risk Assessment with the RD and there has been no vendor outreach
If the member is asking for the vendor's contact information to reach out directly.
Food vendor change requests after the initial 4-week referral period with CalOptima
To view previous form responses and updates, view this spreadsheet.
Can my members pause their food delivery for CalOptima?
If a patient needs to pause their food delivery for a period for hospitalization, it is best for them to contact the food vendor directly to arrange the pause.
CalOptima and Food Vendors do not allow members to pause for any reasons other than hospitalizations
It's also important to inform the patient that the 2-week pause will not extend the referral period beyond the original 4-12 week timeframe.
To help us make the most of our team's resources and stay focused, please:
Wait at least 15 business days after completing a Risk Assessment before submitting a ticket.
Check the issues spreadsheet to avoid duplicate submissions. If necessary, you can add any relevant updates to an existing request by placing a comment on the spreadsheet..
Food Type Determination in Member Referrals for CalOptima
While RDs indicate food preferences (e.g., groceries vs. prepared meals) on the referral form, the final food type is determined based on clinical and programmatic criteria. This ensures members receive the most appropriate support for their health needs.
What to Know:
Preferences are considered, but not guaranteed.
Final food type is based on:
Clinical profile and risk level
Diagnoses and health conditions
Program-specific eligibility rules
Medically Tailored Meals are provided when a member meets clinical thresholds, even if groceries were preferred.
This prioritizes members needing more intensive nutritional support.
Groceries may be provided if the member doesn’t meet criteria for MTMs, even if meals were selected.
RD Action Steps:
Complete the referral form based on accurate clinical information.
If a food type seems inconsistent with what was selected, submit a Food Support ticket
CountyCare (CCH) Food Care Benefits Overview & FAQs
The below table summarizes the information regarding foodcare benefits within the CountyCare program:
CCH Medically Tailored Food Box Program:
What is this? A no cost, home delivery of medically-tailored-meals or produce/grocery boxes to help members manage their chronic conditions.
Who qualifies?
Pregnant with Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant with Hypertension
Type 2 Diabetes AND Hypertension
How to enroll your member?
If your member has any of the qualifying criteria above you can enroll in the program by submitting this survey.
Once the response is submitted, the vendor (details below) will conduct outreach by phone call/SMS to confirm delivery date and time frame within ~1–3 weeks before delivery.
What do members receive?
Produce Boxes Most members will be assigned to receive produce boxes from Dion’s Chicago Dream by default.
Medically Tailored Meals from ChiFresh Kitchen for members who:
Have challenges that prevent them from cooking
Do not have access to a working kitchen
Have congestive heart failure
How long do members receive food?
Members will receive weekly deliveries of medically tailored meals or produce boxes for a duration of 6 to 26 weeks, based on eligibility and program approval.
Medically Tailored Meals: 14 meals / week
Produce Boxes: 1 box / week
Important:
Before submitting the survey, please ensure you validate the member's shipping address to avoid any delivery issues.
If a member indicates during their enrollment that they face challenges with cooking, lack access to a working kitchen, or have congestive heart failure, they will be provided with medically tailored meals. Otherwise, members will receive medically tailored food boxes.
These are the only steps required to begin the program and receive food delivery.
If you feel your member should qualify but is not currently on the eligibility list please refer them to a CountyCare case manager.
How can the member make changes to shipping address/delivery, notes/request for CCH meals?
For change of shipping address/delivery notes/requests, have the patient contact the vendor directly.
Can members select or modify the type of food they receive?
For both the CCH Medically Tailored Food and Emergency Meals Programs, patients are unable to select or modify the type of food they receive. This is because the meals provided are part of a medically tailored intervention, specifically curated based on the patient's responses on the enrollment form.
These responses take into account factors such as chronic conditions, allergies, dietary needs, and the patient’s ability to prepare meals or use a functional kitchen.
The meals are carefully designed to support the patient's health needs, and allowing changes could affect the study assessing the effectiveness of this prescribed nutritional support.
If a member wishes to discontinue participation, they can reach out to the vendor directly for assistance.
Click here to submit a Food Support ticket.