Ohio Grocers and Fintech Firm Unite to Bring 'Food as Medicine' to Local Communities

PLANTATION, FL – December 16, 2025 – A new partnership in Northeast Ohio is set to transform the grocery aisle into a new frontier for healthcare, making it easier for thousands of residents to access nutritious food. Healthcare fintech company NationsBenefits has joined forces with beloved local grocers Dave's Markets and Lucky's Markets Ohio, integrating a high-tech benefits platform directly into the checkout lines of 16 neighborhood stores.

The collaboration allows eligible health plan members to use a prepaid Benefits Mastercard® to seamlessly purchase healthy groceries, over-the-counter wellness products, and other essential goods. This initiative represents a significant step in the growing "Food as Medicine" movement, which aims to use targeted nutritional interventions to prevent and manage chronic disease, directly addressing one of the most critical social determinants of health: access to healthy food.

The Rise of 'Food as Medicine'

The partnership lands amid a major national push to integrate nutrition more deeply into the U.S. healthcare system. The "Food as Medicine" (FIM) concept, once a niche idea, is now a cornerstone of federal health policy, propelled by the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The movement is backed by billions in public and private investment and a growing body of evidence demonstrating its effectiveness.

Research has consistently shown that providing reliable access to nutritious food leads to better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs. Studies indicate that medically tailored food programs can dramatically improve dietary adherence, help manage conditions like diabetes and hypertension, and reduce hospital readmissions. One analysis found that a national implementation of medically tailored meals could prevent 1.6 million hospitalizations and save the healthcare system over $13 billion annually.

This growing body of evidence has prompted action from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which now allows states to use Medicaid funds for health-related social needs, including food, through special waivers. Furthermore, Medicare Advantage plans are increasingly offering supplemental grocery benefits to attract and retain members, recognizing that food security is directly linked to preventative care engagement. A 2025 study in the American Journal of Managed Care found that members who used a grocery benefit were 6.6% more likely to complete annual wellness visits and see specialists, reinforcing the link between the grocery cart and long-term health.

How Fintech Bridges Health and the Checkout Aisle

At the heart of the new Ohio partnership is a sophisticated fintech solution designed to eliminate friction for both shoppers and retailers. Eligible members receive a NationsBenefits Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Flex Card, which they can use like any other debit card at checkout.

The real innovation happens in real-time, powered by NationsBenefits’ proprietary Basket Analyzer Service (BAS). When a member swipes their card, the BAS technology instantly scans the items in their shopping cart, identifies eligible products—such as fresh produce, lean proteins, and approved over-the-counter items—and automatically deducts the cost from the member's benefit funds. This eliminates the need for members to separate items, pay out-of-pocket, or submit cumbersome receipts for reimbursement, a common barrier in older benefit programs.

“NationsBenefits is proud to partner with Dave’s Markets and Lucky’s Markets Ohio, two grocers that are deeply rooted in the communities they serve,” said Michael Parker, Co-CEO of NationsBenefits, in a statement. “Making benefits simple to use in places where people already shop allows us to continue advancing Food as Medicine in a way that is practical and meaningful.”

This seamless integration is a key differentiator in a competitive market, where user experience often dictates the success of a supplemental benefit. By making the process invisible and effortless, the program encourages higher utilization and ensures that health plan dollars are spent as intended on items that support member well-being.

Local Grocers on the Front Lines of Community Health

The choice of Dave's Markets and Lucky's Markets is a strategic one, grounding the high-tech program in the familiar, trusted environment of neighborhood grocery stores. Dave's Markets, a five-generation family business founded in the 1920s, and the four locally-owned Lucky's Markets operate a total of 16 stores across Northeast Ohio, many in communities facing significant health and economic challenges.

Regions like Cuyahoga County have long struggled with food insecurity, with studies showing that one in seven residents may lack consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. These areas, sometimes called "food deserts," where unhealthy options are more plentiful than nutritious ones, are often correlated with higher rates of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

By activating this program within these established community hubs, the partnership directly addresses these disparities. It provides a tangible resource for residents to purchase healthier food without having to travel outside their neighborhoods or navigate complex assistance programs.

“Our stores have always been about serving the neighborhood with familiar faces, quality products, and a straightforward shopping experience,” commented David Saltzman, Vice President of Dave’s Markets and Lucky’s Markets Ohio. “Working with NationsBenefits allows us to deepen our support for local families and help ensure that more Ohioans can access nutritious foods with ease.”

This approach transforms the role of the local grocer from a simple retailer into an active partner in public health, reinforcing their vital position in the community ecosystem and making them a key access point for preventative care. As health plans and policymakers look for scalable solutions to social determinants of health, such retail-health partnerships offer a powerful model for delivering care where people live and shop. The fusion of advanced financial technology with the trusted presence of community-focused retailers signals a new, more integrated future for healthcare delivery, where the path to better health can begin in the local grocery aisle.