Food is Medicine

Food is Medicine Programs come in different flavors

Food and Health are Connected

Food is Medicine initiatives are programs and services that aim to address nutrition inequities that promote health inequities. All these initiatives are spurring innovations in the delivery of healthcare.

Nutrition Incentive Programs promote the purchase and intake of healthy foods. Produce Prescription Programs, such as the RxFFV, are types of Nutrition Incentive Program.

Medically Tailored Meal Programs involve a comprehensive process resulting in meals designed to help patients manage diet-related medical conditions. Healthcare providers, such as dietitians, assess nutritional needs and develop individual meal plans for each participant.

Nutrition Education and Teaching Kitchens help individuals, families, and communities learn how to prepare healthy meals. They may provide hands-on cooking classes focusing on affordable meals or dishes with locally produced foods.

Fresh Farmacy Programs provide patients and their household members with foods that help them to manage their diet-related health conditions. For example, a hospital or community health clinic might provide the food needed to make ten healthy meals for one week.

Produce Prescription Programs

National policy supports reimbursement for Produce Prescription Programs.Funding through the Farm Bill supports the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), which funds Nutrition Incentive Programs and Produce Prescription Programs. In 2023, Congress also approved funding for the Indian Health Service to create a Produce Prescription Pilot Program (P4) to increase access to produce and traditional foods within American Indian/Native American communities helps to address food insecurity and improve health outcomes.

State policies vary. Through their Medicaid programs, the states of California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Oregon cover the costs of PRX for individuals on that healthcare plan.

These states used Medicaid 1115 waivers to establish this benefit. A Medicaid 1115 waiver is funding authorized by the Social Security Act for experimental, pilot, or demonstration projects that may help these national health insurance programs better achieve their objectives.  

Our Advocacy Asks

IHRTF is dedicated to ensuring the utility and sustainability of the Produce Prescription Programs in Idaho by advocating for Medicaid and Medicare 1115 Waivers.

In addition, our team lobbies private payers and other funders about the need to fund and support the ongoing development and expansion of Produce Prescription Programs.