18 Dec 2023 --- Kroger’s healthcare division and Soda Health — a technology company aiming to reduce health inequity — are launching a Smart Benefits program, combining Kroger Health’s services with Soda Health’s &more platform. It will provide pharmacy and nutrition services to participating Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and employer benefits program recipients in the US, allowing them to purchase eligible food and over-the-counter (OTC) health items. 

Through Soda Health’s technology, the program will offer personalized health recommendations, including reminders about health screenings, vaccines, prescription refills and suggestions for medical supplies such as glucose monitors. 

Nutrition Insight sits down with Kroger Health to discuss the new program and its objectives. 

“The Kroger and Soda Health partnership is dedicated to improving health outcomes and promoting health equity. It makes it easier than ever for people to buy the things they need and connect them with Kroger community pharmacists and registered dietitians to help manage and improve their health,” a spokesperson for Kroger Health tells us. 

“We want to turn every Kroger store into a point-of-care — a healthcare destination with a world of care in-store. People visit Kroger stores much more frequently than interact with their doctor, dietitian (assuming they have one) or healthcare provider. We want to use that frequency to deliver benefits targeted to each individual’s health needs, when and wher they most need them.”

In-store benefits 
The Smart Benefits program will be operated and powered by Soda Health, which aims to change how “benefit dollars” are used to improve health and reduce inequities. The company partners with health plans and retailers to facilitate transactions of benefits from insurance plans. 

Consumers can access benefits resources funded by their insurance plans through Soda Health’s &more debit cards, making purchasing healthy foods and quality healthcare services at participating retailers easier. Moreover, consumers can use the debit card to pay for transportation for medical appointments or personal utility bills. 

“As well as being able to receive their prescription medications, patients can now also take advantage of OTC medications, supplements or healthcare accessories that can help them live healthier lives,” the Kroger Health spokesperson says. 

“For example, buying, using their benefits, a blood pressure monitor or vitamins in the pharmacy area. Then, they can continue to shop the rest of the store to buy beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, avocados or other potassium-rich foods that may help lower blood pressure naturally.”

James Kirby, chief commercial officer at Kroger Health, adds that the program will provide more people with the tools and information needed to make better, healthier choices. 

“We know food has such a large impact on health outcomes for our customers and patients. We are working toward truly changing how America eats by improving access to healthy, affordable food and other health resources.”

Food as medicine 
“nclick="updateothersitehits('Articlepage','External','OtherSitelink','Kroger and Soda Health boost access to over-the-counter nutrition and healthcare','Kroger and Soda Health boost access to over-the-counter nutrition and healthcare','338341','https://www.nutritioninsight.com/news/transforming-healthcare-food-as-medicine-could-avert-millions-of-hospitalizations-experts-flag.html', 'article','Kroger and Soda Health boost access to over-the-counter nutrition and healthcare');return no_reload();">Food as medicine” at Kroger is a dedicated, educated and personalized approach to eating and enjoying food so people can live healthier lives and prevent illness before it starts, explains the company’s spokesperson. 

“This means meeting people wher they are and educating them on what is healthy for them. It is not about adhering to rigid dietary requirements, but making small, personalized and sustainable changes that gradually impact their overall health and nutrition.” 

“If you’re managing diabetes, for example, it’s important to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and understand how what you eat can affect your blood sugar. It does not necessarily mean cutting out all carbohydrates and avoiding the things you love. But by adding a little more fruits and vegetables to your diet or occasionally swapping pretzels for almonds as a snack, you can start making a difference in your blood sugar control.”

The spokesperson adds that making it easier to use benefits from insurance to buy those healthy foods and pick up testing supplies while shopping for weekly groceries is “the most convenient way of getting what you need to make your life healthier. That’s the premise of the Smart Benefits program at Kroger.” 

Personalized healthcare 
Soda Health is working with other major retailers to increase the number of stores they can receive and redeem personalized benefits.

Robby Knight, co-founder and CEO of Soda Health, underscores that Soda Health and Kroger Health enable localized and personalized healthcare to customers. 

“We chose to collaborate with Kroger Health to share the prominent role that Food as Medicine plays in healthcare. Through their services, including OptUP and registered dietitians, they are working to empower people to make choices that will impact their overall well-being.”

The OptUP app is a nutrition rating system that simplifies choosing nourishing foods by analyzing a food’s label and ingredients to calculate a nutrition rating on a scale from 1 to 100, presented on a product’s page. The ratings are calculated through data science, nutrition information and machine learning, driven by registered dietitians. 

Moreover, the company states: “We will be working with Kroger to integrate their food as medicine solutions such as the OptUP nutrition rating system and access to registered dietitians to help those with chronic health conditions and improve the nutrition security of the population.”