When basic needs are threatened in the wake of unthinkable situations, members disengage from clinical care, focusing on just getting by. Plans need a comprehensive approach to pull them up and inspire member activation. Reframe your approach to identify and address barriers, such as food insecurity, before they spiral to offer stability even when public resources fail. You have the power to build meaningful connections and trust. We’ll show you how to turn a moment of crisis into an opportunity to improve health outcomes.
All too often, members shy away from seeking help due to embarrassment or shame, and health plans fall short on making them feel safe to engage. Phone calls and appointment reminders are simply too passive to motivate action, especially in the face of compounding factors, such as a personal or even government crisis.
Become more invested in your plan members and what might be impacting their care behaviors and overall well-being. It starts with being proactive.
Move beyond surface-level demographics to understand who is most in need of your help. Plans can do this by leveraging a combination of advanced analytics and screening to locate members struggling with NMDOH, such as social isolation or food insecurity.
Because NMDOH often go together, identifying one obstacle can ultimately lead to early intervention for many, preventing costly downstream utilization. Pairing identification tools with human-centered technology can facilitate connection and even pinpoint hard-to-reach members who are often ignored by traditional outreach methods.
Any number of interventions could support at-risk members, but make stabilization the first stop on the journey. Anticipate their greatest needs before addressing clinical gaps. After all, member activation will be a ways off if a member is hungry, housing insecure or otherwise struggling.
One of the most successful entry points to make early progress? Food! Support members in a tangible way while giving plans a way to build trust. Pyx Health pairs compassionate human support with timely resource delivery, such as boxes of food and health essentials, to move members from a state of crisis to ready for care.
Putting your foot in the door with something as simple as a food box and a bit of human connection builds what we call "trust currency." If plans can set members at ease, they’ll be more likely to show up for future clinical appointments and share sensitive health information.
Manage current risks and predict future crises by getting to know members more intimately. When you build a foundation of trust with members, they know they can count on you to understand and respond to their needs. This rapport makes them feel more at ease in disclosing personal challenges, so they can advocate for themselves going forward.
The government’s 2025 budget shift gave rise to new SNAP policies and benefit disruptions that ignited anxiety and anger. Millions of plan members are at risk for losing benefits and are faced with tough choices, such as:
Without a government lifeline, these members need alternatives. Become the hero in their story and drive member activation through private food support.
Plan-sponsored food boxes give vulnerable members options so they don’t have to choose between eating and taking care of their health. These non-SNAP-funded interventions bypass bureaucratic red tape to provide healthy food and supplies.
Offer relief to food-insecure members at a moment’s notice in response to policy shifts. Food box programs feed more than the belly — they’re a Trojan horse for health literacy. Share educational resources with members as care coordinators chat over a box of key supplies to improve:
Your plan has obligations to live up to, and driving member activation can move mountains for how you operate and stimulate healthy behaviors. Drive measurable results in your efforts to solve NMDOH needs.
The support you give your members truly matters in the long haul, especially during a crisis. Your response to their NMDOH challenges — SNAP cuts, transportation and housing — directly impacts quality metrics that drive reimbursement and bonuses.
Think about it this way: Members who feel supported during a crisis rank their plan satisfaction higher in Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems surveys, driving U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) star ratings. A simple food box could translate to a positive plan reputation and bonus payments to expand member benefits.
When food and supplies are readily available, members can nourish themselves in other ways, closing care gaps that drive health deterioration. Many take preventive care more seriously after listening to advice from someone who helped them eat.
Pyx Health’s food box program creates a mutually beneficial relationship between plans and members. Members agree to attestation to relevant quality milestones to maintain eligibility, such as:
It’s like a loyalty program but for health care! Members can receive reward boxes for completing visits, screenings and care milestones, while plans achieve compliance with CMS gap closure measures.
Outside forces always have the potential to impact the way your plan operates and members’ feelings of stability. Prepare for limitations, such as government shutdowns and SNAP funding, and offer your members tangible relief. To some, that might be a compassionate ear to listen and advice for navigating the situation, while to others, it might be a food box packed with nutritious goods — or both! But one thing’s clear: It matters more to your members than you know, and they reward your commitment with sustained loyalty and improved adherence to their health care goals.
Prioritize member activation so they can become more resilient in the face of the unknown. Pyx Health‘s member activation platform and innovative food box program uncover hidden risks and NMDOH needs. By breaking through the noise and meeting members with vital resources, we place health plan priorities right on the kitchen table.
Contact us today to learn how our programs can help you plan for the everyday and the unthinkable.