Share this article Share this article EAGAN, Minn., Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Blue Plus (Blue Plus) today announced a new program with Second Harvest Heartland and Project Well to study the impact of comprehensive dietary support on maternal and infant health outcomes. The research project will recruit pregnant Black and Indigenous Blue Plus members with indicators linked to high-risk pregnancy to participate and receive up to seven months of nutrition benefits and services. The program will also take into consideration the nutritional needs of the whole household, including other children. "Pregnancy-related death and infant mortality rates are much higher among Black and Indigenous families, as compared to the white population. These inequities are rooted in systemic racism and disproportionate access to adequate prenatal care and nutrition," said Christine Reiten, vice president of Medicaid at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. "Collaborative programs like this allow us to work toward a common goal of providing more upstream, preventive care and increase access to resources all families should have."