MHS and Centene Foundation Announces Investment to Address Food Insecurity in Indiana
Date: 03/10/26
MHS and Centene Foundation Announces Investment to Address Food Insecurity in Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS - (March 10, 2026)—Managed Health Services (MHS), a managed care entity proudly serving Indiana for 30 years and a Centene (NYSE: CNC) company, is proud to announce a new investment in two initiatives aimed at supporting food-insecure Hoosiers in partnership with the Centene Foundation. MHS and the Centene Foundation will allocate funds to the HATCH Program, in partnership with Gleaners Food Bank, to benefit Shepherd Community Center and the Eskenazi Food as Medicine Program. The HATCH Program will receive $11,000 over 24 months, and the Eskenazi Health Foundation will receive $110,000 over the same period.
Addressing food insecurity and nutrition is key to the MHS mission of transforming the health of the communities the organization serves, one person at a time. MHS Plan President and CEO Christina Hage, emphasizes this stating, “By increasing access to nutritious food, expanding program capacity, and strengthening community partnerships, this initiative reflects a shared mission to support the well-being of Hoosiers and build healthier, more resilient neighborhoods across the state.” Through these strategic investments, MHS and the Centene Foundation are deepening their commitment to addressing food insecurity and improving health outcomes for Indiana communities.
The HATCH Program
The HATCH Program provides a consistent and affordable supply of protein-rich, animal-based foods—including eggs, chicken, beef, turkey, and pork—to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
Support from MHS and Centene Foundation will expand community access to essential resources, including food assistance and nutrition education, increasing the number of HATCH boxes to 400 and distributing them to Shepherd Community. These boxes will also include cooking equipment and recipe cards to help families prepare nutritious meals.
Additionally, the support will broaden the program’s overall reach, increasing the number of food-insecure Hoosiers enrolled, the number of patients screened for food insecurity, and the total number of boxes distributed. Volunteer engagement will also be strengthened through additional team member hours devoted to packaging and delivery efforts.
Eskenazi Food as Medicine Program
The Eskenazi Health Fresh for You Market is a grocery store and food pantry hybrid designed to provide a self-sustaining model to address food insecurity. Open to the public, proceeds from traditional sales directly support the Fresh for You Market voucher program, which enables patients who screen positive for food insecurity during clinical visits to receive vouchers for free groceries. The market accepts cash, debit/credit cards, SNAP, and EBT.
The Fresh for You Market on Wheels—a mobile grocery store and food pantry—travels to different Indianapolis locations each weekday, offering fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen proteins, dairy, bread, pantry staples, and more.
MHS and Centene Foundation support will expand participation in Eskenazi Health’s Food as Medicine programs, including WIC services, healthy lifestyle coaching, nutrition and cooking education while also enhancing SNAP referral and coordination services. The investment will also increase the number of $30 Fresh for You Market vouchers available by 3,600. This allows more patients to access nutritious food at no cost.
This support will significantly broaden the program’s reach by increasing patient screenings for food insecurity, the number of vouchers distributed and redeemed, and the number of patients referred to and enrolled in SNAP. Participation in supportive programs will also grow as more individuals connect with available resources. In addition, volunteer engagement opportunities will expand through increased team member hours dedicated to packaging and delivery efforts, further strengthening community impact.
About MHS
Managed Health Services (MHS) is a managed care entity that has been proudly serving the state of Indiana for 30 years through the Hoosier Healthwise and Hoosier Care Connect Medicaid programs and the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) Medicaid alternative program. MHS also offers Ambetter Health in the Indiana health insurance marketplace, and Wellcare, a Medicare Advantage plan. All of our plans include quality, comprehensive coverage with a provider network you can trust. Visit mhsindiana.com to learn more. MHS is a Centene company, a leading healthcare enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier lives.
About Centene Foundation
The Centene Foundation (the "Foundation"), a private nonprofit focused on investing in economically challenged communities, is the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) ("Centene"). The Foundation supports projects and initiatives strategically aligned with Centene's mission-driven culture and enhances the work Centene is doing to remove the barriers to wellness underserved and low-income populations face. The Foundation is committed to addressing social drivers of health and improving health equity in three distinct areas of focus: healthcare access, social services and education. To learn more, visit the Centene Foundation's website.
Media Contact:
Elizabeth Sons
Director, Marketing & Communications, MHS 317-690-8311