What is food insecurity?
Health, well-being and access to healthy foods are closely connected. Food insecurity means not having access to affordable and healthy foods for you and your family.
Food insecurity puts us at higher risk of developing chronic diseases. It also makes it harder for our bodies to keep us healthy. Not being able to access healthy and nutritious food (or any food at all) can lead to disease complications, missing doses of important medication and hospitalization. All of these things can make health care costs more expensive.
How common is food insecurity in Maine?
Nearly 1 out of every 5 children in Maine experience food insecurity. 13% of all people, about 1 in every 10, experience food insecurity.
What is AOA体育平台 doing?
Through a partnership with, AOA体育平台 care teams have been trained on food insecurity and its connection to chronic disease. We have added food access resources into our electronic health record (EHR) system and offer healthy food resources to patients who need them.
All AOA体育平台 primary care practices and inpatient departments have added food insecurity screening questions. All patients who come for routine visits and inpatient admissions are asked these questions.
Need help accessing healthy food?
We can help you find healthy food in your community. We can also help you:
- Apply for health coverage
- Access affordable medications
- Find transportation and other social services
Contact the AOA体育平台 Patient Assistance Line at [email protected] or 1-833-MHHELP1 (833-644-3571).
Contact Us
For more information, please contact [email protected].