Publisher: Food Bank News
Published: October 16, 2026
Source: Read at Food Bank News (https://foodbanknews.org/calif-food-is-medicine-program-poised-to-leap/)
Category: Food Access
Alameda County Community Food Bank received California's first state insurance reimbursement for providing healthy groceries to a patient in February 2024. Blue Shield of California announced a $300,000 multi-year investment as the food bank prepares to double the number of people it serves monthly through its Food is Medicine program. The program now serves about 130 patients a week and receives referrals from 60 healthcare partners, up from one in early 2024. Blue Shield plans to invest $600,000 across seven hunger relief providers in California, with much of Alameda County's funding expected to go toward food purchases, including from BIPOC farmers such as Dig Deep Farms.
Why this matters: The program's growth offers food-access organizations a model for partnering with healthcare providers and coordinating grocery delivery. The funding also shows how insurance reimbursement and corporate support can contribute to this work.
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